U.S. ambassador injured in slashing attack by activist
U.S. ambassador injured in slashing attack by activist. U.S. Ambassador Mark Lippert was attacked by an anti-American activist wielding a 25-centimeter (9.8 inch) knife at a breakfast function Thursday morning and sustained wounds to his face and wrist. The attacker, 55-year old Kim Ki-jong, shouted demands to halt ongoing Korea-U.S. military drills. Lippert was rushed to a nearby hospital for initial examination and then moved to the Yonsei University’s Severance Hospital for two surgeries, including 80 stitches on his face. The surgeries were successful and Lippert was Tweeting a positive message by 4:34 p.m. “Doing well&in great spirits … deeply moved by the support!” The American diplomat, who assumed his post in October, was attacked around 7:40 a.m. at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in central Seoul, where he was about to give a lecture on peace, unification of the two Koreas and the prospects of Korea-U.S. relations. The attacker, who is head of his own research institute on reunification issues and has a history of attacking foreign embassy people, was immediately pounced on, disarmed and arrested. He also once set himself on fire near the Blue House to protest an alleged attack on his institute. “This is an attack on the Korea-U.S. alliance,” President Park Geun-hye said Thursday after she was told about the incident during a trip to the Middle East. “The government is taking all necessary measures including a thorough investigation and reinforced security.” Park sent her wishes for Lippert’s recovery and expressed regret for the attack to U.S. President Barack Obama and the U.S. government.
