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South Korea US envoy Lippert 'well' after knife attack South Korea US envoy Lippert 'well' after knife attack
(about 1 hour later)
A militant Korean nationalist has slashed the face of the US ambassador to South Korea at a breakfast meeting in Seoul, but the envoy was not seriously hurt.A militant Korean nationalist has slashed the face of the US ambassador to South Korea at a breakfast meeting in Seoul, but the envoy was not seriously hurt.
Mark Lippert, 42, was also cut on his left hand, with blood spattered over the breakfast table.Mark Lippert, 42, was also cut on his left hand, with blood spattered over the breakfast table.
Security officers subdued the attacker, one pinning him down with a shoe on his neck, until he was arrested.Security officers subdued the attacker, one pinning him down with a shoe on his neck, until he was arrested.
North Korea has described the attack as "just punishment for US warmongers".North Korea has described the attack as "just punishment for US warmongers".
The North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said he had delivered a "knife shower of justice".The North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said he had delivered a "knife shower of justice".
The attacker has been named as Kim Ki-jong. The attacker, named as Kim Ki-jong, 55, appears to have broken his ankle during the attack and was taken away on an ambulance trolley after questioning.
South Korean police, who are in the process of obtaining warrants to search his home, are seeking to establish whether he has close ties with the North, the BBC's Stephen Evans reports from Seoul.South Korean police, who are in the process of obtaining warrants to search his home, are seeking to establish whether he has close ties with the North, the BBC's Stephen Evans reports from Seoul.
Mr Lippert had hospital treatment but later wrote in a tweet: "Doing well and in great spirits... Will be back ASAP to advance US-ROK [Republic of Korea] alliance!"Mr Lippert had hospital treatment but later wrote in a tweet: "Doing well and in great spirits... Will be back ASAP to advance US-ROK [Republic of Korea] alliance!"
US President Barack Obama called his ambassador to wish him "the very best for a speedy recovery", a US official said.US President Barack Obama called his ambassador to wish him "the very best for a speedy recovery", a US official said.
Analysis: Stephen Evans, BBC News, SeoulAnalysis: Stephen Evans, BBC News, Seoul
Nobody believes that pro-North Korean groups represent a majority of South Koreans but they are still a significant minority and part of the political landscape.Nobody believes that pro-North Korean groups represent a majority of South Koreans but they are still a significant minority and part of the political landscape.
In November, South Korea's constitutional court ordered that the Unified Progressive Party be dissolved even though it had five members elected to parliament. The authorities said the UPP posed a threat to South Korean democracy. One of its leaders was jailed.In November, South Korea's constitutional court ordered that the Unified Progressive Party be dissolved even though it had five members elected to parliament. The authorities said the UPP posed a threat to South Korean democracy. One of its leaders was jailed.
The counter-argument of the leftist nationalists is not so much that they want to be ruled by Pyongyang or fall under a North Korean system but that the American military presence in South Korea perpetuates a division within one people - the Korean people.The counter-argument of the leftist nationalists is not so much that they want to be ruled by Pyongyang or fall under a North Korean system but that the American military presence in South Korea perpetuates a division within one people - the Korean people.
The strong feelings of pro-Pyongyang activists become most obvious when anti-Pyongyang activists launch balloons into the North loaded with propaganda messages. The two sides confront each other, with much jostling and shouting. There was a small pro-US demonstration after the attack on the ambassador but some on the streets of the capital said they applauded it.The strong feelings of pro-Pyongyang activists become most obvious when anti-Pyongyang activists launch balloons into the North loaded with propaganda messages. The two sides confront each other, with much jostling and shouting. There was a small pro-US demonstration after the attack on the ambassador but some on the streets of the capital said they applauded it.
The US state department said it strongly condemned the incident which South Korean President Park Guen-hye described as an "attack on the South Korea-US alliance".The US state department said it strongly condemned the incident which South Korean President Park Guen-hye described as an "attack on the South Korea-US alliance".
Witnesses say the attacker, a 55-year-old man with a history of militant Korean nationalistic activism, shouted demands for North and South Korea to be reunified.
A small group of South Koreans held a protest against the attack outside the hospital where Mr Lippert was treated, waving placards which read "Mark Lippert, Cheer up!" and "Korea-US relationship is solid".A small group of South Koreans held a protest against the attack outside the hospital where Mr Lippert was treated, waving placards which read "Mark Lippert, Cheer up!" and "Korea-US relationship is solid".
Eighty stitchesEighty stitches
The attack happened at about 07:40 (22:40 GMT Wednesday), as the ambassador was at a performing arts centre in central Seoul.
It took 80 stitches to close the ambassador's facial wound, which was 11 cm (just more than 4 in) long and 3 cm deep, doctors said.It took 80 stitches to close the ambassador's facial wound, which was 11 cm (just more than 4 in) long and 3 cm deep, doctors said.
The cut did not affect his nerves or salivary gland, hospital spokesman Chung Nam-sik said.The cut did not affect his nerves or salivary gland, hospital spokesman Chung Nam-sik said.
The attack happened at about 07:40 (22:40 GMT Wednesday), as the ambassador was at a performing arts centre in central Seoul, South Korean police say. Lew Dae-hyun, a plastic surgeon at Yonsei University's Severance Hospital, said Mr Lippert had narrowly escaped having much more serious injuries.
The assailant reportedly shouted "South and North Korea should be reunified!" before lashing out at the envoy. "If the cut had been one to two centimetres deeper than it is now, it could have damaged the carotid on the upper neck, which could have turned it into a serious emergency situation," he said. "It could have been life-threatening."
He also reportedly condemned annual military exercises held jointly by South Korea and the US, which are currently under way. Kim Ki-jong's militant past
'Stretcher interrogation'
The assailant was interrogated three hours on his stretcher before being taken to hospital, the Yonhap news agency reports, quoting police.
"We considered the gravity of the issue and that the act could be seen as terrorism," an unnamed prosecution official said.
Ahead of his attack, Mr Kim had reportedly shouted: "South and North Korea should be reunified!" and condemned the current annual military exercises held jointly by South Korea and the US.
North Korea has described the exercises - which involve more than 200,000 troops - as a rehearsal for an invasion and has vowed retaliation.North Korea has described the exercises - which involve more than 200,000 troops - as a rehearsal for an invasion and has vowed retaliation.
A small group of South Koreans believe that the American military presence prevents unification of the two Koreas.
The assailant previously threw concrete at the Japanese ambassador to South Korea.
The 1950-53 war which split the Korean peninsula ended in an armistice, with neither side able to claim outright victory.The 1950-53 war which split the Korean peninsula ended in an armistice, with neither side able to claim outright victory.
No peace treaty has ever been signed and the sides regularly accuse each other of violating the agreement.No peace treaty has ever been signed and the sides regularly accuse each other of violating the agreement.
Mr Lippert - a former US assistant secretary of defence - was appointed ambassador to South Korea in 2014.Mr Lippert - a former US assistant secretary of defence - was appointed ambassador to South Korea in 2014.
His wife gave birth in the country, and the couple gave their son a Korean middle name, according to the Associated Press news agency. His wife gave birth in the country, and the couple gave their son a Korean middle name, Associated Press news agency reports.