The president of Mindan and other leaders of the pro-Seoul group announced their resignation Friday to take the blame for the turmoil created by its historic reconciliation bid with the pro-Pyongyang group Chongryun in May.</PARAGRAPH> <PARAGRAPH>President Ha Byeong Ok and other executives at Mindan, known officially as the Korean Residents Union in Japan, tendered their resignation at a central executive committee meeting later Friday.</PARAGRAPH> <PARAGRAPH>The leaders were criticized by other members for not consulting the central committee or the central executive committee before issuing the statement of reconciliation with the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan –

on May 17.

In May, the leaders of the two feuding groups met for the first time in 60 years and signed a joint statement pledging to reconcile and form closer ties.

Mindan, however, scrapped the joint statement soon after North Korea test-fired seven missiles intothe Sea of Japan on July 5.

Many Mindan members have accused the leadership of single-handedly pushing for reconciliation at a time when Japanese sentiment is strongly against North Korea because of unresolved questions over Pyongyang's abductions of Japanese nationals.

Some of Mindan's umbrella organizations have started a petition drive calling for its highest decision-making body to hold a special session to pass a no-confidence motion against the leadership.

Three of Mindan's five vice presidents resigned July 3.