US envoy to South Korea wounded in knife attack

The United States ambassador to South Korea, Mark Lippert, was wounded on Thursday, when he was attacked by a knife-wielding man who said he was against the joint military maneuvers being staged by Washington and Seoul this week.

The suspect, identified as a 55-year-old Kim Ki-jong, slashed the face and wrist of the ambassador as he arrived at a conference in downtown Seoul.

Television images showed the envoy bleeding from the head and arm, although his injuries proved not to be serious.

“We strongly condemn this act of violence,” US State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said.

US President Barack Obama quickly called Lippert to wish him a speedy recovery, a White House official said.

The assailant was caught by the police, who said he used a small fruit knife in the attack.

In 2010, Kim tried to attack the Japanese ambassador to Seoul by throwing a piece of concrete and was given a suspended jail term, according to police.

Lippert, who took office in November, is known for an open, informal style. He is active on Twitter and can often be seen walking his basset hound, Grigsby, in Seoul. His wife recently gave birth to a son, who was given a Korean middle name.