South Korea prime minister resigns over ferry disaster

South Korea’s Prime Minister Chung Hong-won has resigned amid criticism of the government’s response and handling of the April 16 ferry disaster.

The prime minister announced his resignation early on Sunday during an emergency news conference in Seoul.

Chung's resignation was approved by President Park Geun-hye although her spokesman later said that he would remain in his post until the rescue operation was completed.

"I offer my apology for having been unable to prevent this accident from happening and unable to properly respond to it afterwards," he said. 

"I believed I, as the prime minister, certainly had to take responsibility and resign."

The Sewol ferry sank on a routine trip south from the port of Incheon to the traditional holiday island of Jeju. The confirmed death toll has risen to 187 while more than 120 people, most of them students and teachers from one high school on a field trip, are still missing and presumed dead.

The children were told to stay put in their cabins, where they waited for further orders.

The government, along with almost all of its branches, has come under fierce criticism over the disaster, and the handing of the rescue operation. Chung said that he wanted to resign earlier, but had given the situation "first priority," adding that he did not want to be "any burden to the administration".

Tempers have frayed over the slow pace of the recovery and frequent changes in information provided by the government.

All 15 surviving crew members responsible for sailing the vessel are now in custody and face charges ranging from criminal negligence to abandoning passengers.