(Newswire.net — March 5, 2015) — The US Ambassador to South Korea, Mark Lippert, was hurt in a vicious attack while at central Seoul ‘Breakfast forum’. A ‘peace activist’ who shouted anti-war paroles slashed his face with a razor, Reuters reported. The ambassador is recovering and he posted on Twitter that he is doing well.
“Doing well & in great spirits! Robyn, Sejun, Grigsby & I – deeply moved by the support! Will be back ASAP to advance US-ROK alliance!”
The nature of the attack suggests that attacker acted on behalf of the North Korean government, which released a statement the attack was “just punishment” for the two countries’ joint military drills. Reportedly, the attacker is assailant from South Korea, known to police from before.
Michael Lammbrau of the Arirang Institute think tank, who witnessed the attack, told Reuters that “The guy comes in wearing traditional Korean brown and tan dress. He yells something, goes up to the ambassador and slashes him in the face.”
He said the ambassador was still in his chair when people jumped and “wrestled the guy to the ground.” “The ambassador fought him from his seat. He was escorted out afterwards. There was a trail of blood behind him.”
The witness said the ambassador Lippert has about a seven inch-long gash on the right side of his face, which will leave a nasty scar for a lifetime. White House stated the President Barack Obama has called Lippert to wish him a speedy recovery.
“We strongly condemn this act of violence,” State Department spokesperson Marie Harf said.
According to North Korea officials, the man that attacked the Ambassador was identified as a 55-year-old assailant Kim Ki-Jong, Reuters reported. Questioned by the media, the officials didn’t comment on the foreign diplomats security issue, amid the fact the attacker was jailed in 2010 for throwing a piece of concrete at a Japanese ambassador.
It is not yet confirmed what the attacker was yelling about during the attack. AP reported their source told them the attacker said, “Both Koreas need to be united.” Other outlets, however, are reporting that the man yelled, “No drills for war,” referencing joint military drills conducted by the US and South Korea.
Meanwhile, the North Korean news agency has commented that the attack was a “just punishment.”