United States Ambassador Mark Lippert who was about to have a lecture at the performing arts center in Seoul, South Korea was slashed on the face and wrist by a man who wielded a bladed weapon while screaming that rivals South and North Korea should be unified, Philippine Star reported Thursday.
The bloodied Lippert was shown on media photos staring at his blood-covered left hand while his right hand was pressing a handkerchief on a cut on his face. He was seen escorted by other participants to a car that eventually brought him to the nearest hospital for first aid treatment.
U.S. State Department has condemned that attack and confirmed that Lippert is in a very stable condition and luckily the cuts he suffered were not serious and life threatening.
According to MSN, the man was only identified at this time as a 55-year-old man surnamed Kim.
Kim also shouted anti-war statement after he was incarcerated and Seoul police identified the weapon used on the attack was at least 25-centimeter long.
The assailant's comments on Korean reunification were deeply linked to the lingering South and North Korea tension that branched out from the old Korean War. The U.S helped South Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War and at present, has 28,500 troops deployed in the country as a "contigent" in case North Korea will try again to go on war against South Korea.
Before his appointment last year, Lippert was a former U.S. Assistant Secretary Defense for Asian affairs and a foreign policy aide to President Barack Obama back when Obama was still a U.S. senator.
He'd been a constant presence in Seoul since his appointment and his wife gave birth in the country. As a tribute to South Korea, he and his wife gave their new born baby a Korean middle name.
Upon knowing the incident, US President Barrack Obama called Lippert right away to express his thoughts and prayers for a speedy recover, the White House confirmed.