US Ambassador to South Korea Attacked

[Observer]

U.S. Ambassador Mark Lippert was in stable condition after a man screaming demands for a unified North and South Korea slashed him on the face and wrist with a knife, South Korean police and U.S. officials said Thursday.

Media images showed a stunned-looking Lippert examining his blood-covered left hand and holding his right hand over a cut on the right side of his face, his pink tie splattered with blood.

The U.S. State Department condemned the attack, which happened at a performing arts center in downtown Seoul as the ambassador was preparing for a lecture about prospects for peace on the divided Korean Peninsula, and said Lippert's injuries weren't life threatening.

The U.S. Embassy later said Lippert was in stable condition after surgery at a Seoul hospital. Photos showed a gash on Lippert's face, starting under his right cheekbone and extending diagonally across his cheek toward his jawbone.

The attack will shock many outsiders because the United States is South Korea's closest ally, its military protector and a big trading partner and cultural influence.

But the reported comments of the suspect, 55-year-old Kim Ki-jong, during the attack - "South and North Korea should be reunified" - touch on a deep political divide in South Korea over the still-fresh legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War, which is still technically ongoing because it ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. Some South Koreans blame the presence of 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in the South as a deterrent to the North for the continuing split of the Korean Peninsula along the world's most heavily armed border - a view North Korea's propaganda machine regularly pushes in state media.

The attack came suddenly, witnesses said. A knife-wielding man ran screaming up to Lippert as soup was being served for the breakfast meeting and began slashing, said Kim Young-man, spokesman for the group hosting the breakfast, the Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation. A separate, unidentified witness told local media that as Lippert stood up for a handshake, the suspect wrestled the ambassador to the ground and slashed him with a knife.

Yonhap TV showed men in suits and ties piled on top of the attacker, who was dressed in a modern version of the traditional Korean hanbok, and Lippert later being rushed to a police car with a blood-soaked handkerchief pressed to his cheek. The suspect also shouted anti-war slogans after he was detained, police said. They said the knife was about 25 centimeters long (10 inches).

A direct attack on a senior U.S. official is unusual, but it represents a thread in South Korean society of sometimes extreme protests on both sides of the political divide. Regular small to medium-sized demonstrations, often by activists seen as professional protesters, occur across Seoul, often either by anti-U.S. liberals who support closer reconciliation with the North, or pro-government conservative groups who support the U.S. and loathe Pyongyang.

Violence sometimes breaks out at the protests. Scuffles with police and the burning of effigies of North Korean and Japanese leaders are common. Demonstrators sometimes severe their own fingers, throw bodily fluids at embassies and try to self-immolate. In 2008, hundreds of thousands took to the streets to protest U.S. beef imports after a mad cow scare in America. Both sides of the divide also protest regularly against archrival Japan, which colonized Korea in the early 20th century, over territorial and history disputes.

True to form, conservative civic groups planned to hold rallies later Thursday to condemn the attack on the ambassador.

The suspect in the attack appeared to be well-known in Seoul for his willingness to use violence to highlight his grievances.

A police official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation was still happening, said the suspect in 2010 threw a piece of concrete at the Japanese ambassador in Seoul. South Korean media reported that Kim Ki-jong was later sentenced to a three-year suspended prison term over the attack. Kim, who was protesting Japan's claim to small disputed islands that are occupied by South Korea, missed the ambassador with the concrete and hit his secretary instead, the reports said.

Kim also reportedly tried to set himself on fire with gasoline while protesting in front of the presidential Blue House in October 2007. He was demanding a government investigation into an alleged 1988 rape in Kim's office, according to news reports.

South Korea's Foreign Ministry released a statement condemning the attack and vowing a thorough investigation and strengthened protection of embassies. South Korean President Park Geun-hye, who is on a Middle East tour, said in a statement that what happened was "not only a physical attack on the U.S. ambassador in South Korea but also an attack on the Korea-U.S. alliance and we will not tolerate it."

The suspect on Thursday also reportedly made mention of something that anti-U.S. protesters in Seoul have recently demonstrated against: annual U.S.-South Korean military exercises that North Korea says are preparation for an invasion. Seoul and Washington say the drills, which will run until the end of April, are defensive and routine.

North Korea each year reacts with fury to the drills, which the impoverished country is forced to respond to with drills and weapons tests of its own. In 2013 it threatened nuclear strikes on Washington and Seoul, and on the first day of this year's drills, Monday, it test-fired short range missiles in a demonstration of anger.

Lippert, 42, became ambassador in October of last year and has been a regular presence on social media and in speeches and presentations during his time in Seoul. His wife gave birth here and the couple gave their son a Korean middle name. Lippert was formerly the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian Affairs and a foreign policy aide to President Barack Obama when Obama was a U.S. senator.

Obama called Lippert after the attack to express his prayers for a speedy recovery, the White House said.

"We strongly condemn this act of violence," State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said. She had no other details.

http://goo.gl/5gS6Tu

 

[Mshana Jr]

Something is behind the carpet here

 

[leroy]

Something wrong here.

 

[Extraterrestrial]

South Korea has attempted to mend bridges between the families across the peninsular – even saving a part of the budget towards reconciliation and reunification with North – every step has been sabotaged by the Americans. Each time relations with North Korea start to progress America finds an excuse to stir trouble. Take for example American persistence on military exercises, or the recent Movie "the Interview" which is inflammatory & insulting and was topped by unsubstantiated accusations of Koreans hacking.

At the same time South Koreans are asked to stomach the idea that Japan should be allowed rebuild their army, and reintroduce an aggressive navy patrolling and vying for territory... Japan continues to become a virtual aircraft carrier threatening Asia once more. Koreans have no interest in fighting with China who is the largest economic partner of both North & South Korea. Korea also has no interest in joining with Japan in greater military or cultural ties when war past crimes have never been properly addressed. If America truly wants to push their agenda, they should not be so surprised that Korea will close all US bases and becomes aligned with China. Koreans don’t like to cause a fuss but the level of resentment is bubbling away getting close to boiling point.

 

[R.B]

The U.S. Ambassador to South Korea (left and right) was attacked by a 'pro-North Korea activist' at a lecture in Seoul Thursday morning. Ambassador Mark Lippert's injuries were non life-threatening. The knife-wielding assailant was immediately taken into custody and identified as a 55-year-old man named Kim Ki-Jong (inset). South Korean intelligence officials told Yonhap News that Ki-Jong visited North Korea six times between 2006 and 2007 and once tried to erect a memorial in Seoul for late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. Right before the attack, Kim reportedly shouted out 'North Korea and South Korea should be unified'. Ambassador Lippert was safely taken to the hospital where he received 80 stitches to his face wound.

 

[Earthmover]

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - U.S. Ambassador Mark Lippert was in stable condition after a man screaming demands for a unified North and South Korea slashed him on the face and wrist with a knife, South Korean police and U.S. officials said Thursday.

Media images showed a stunned-looking Lippert examining his blood-covered left hand and holding his right hand over a cut on the right side of his face, his pink tie splattered with blood.

Mtuhumiwa wa shambulizi akibebwa mzobe mzobe eneo la tukio

The attack took place at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, where Lippert was one of several speakers slated to make remarks on inter-Korean affairs and U.S.-South Korean relations

A wounded Mark Lippert leaves the Sejong Cultural Institute in Seoul after a knife attack on March 5

 

[Herbalist Dr MziziMkavu]

Balozi Mark Lippet akiwa na majeraha baada ya shambulizi.

Balozi wa Marekani nchini Korea Kusini ameshambuliwa kwa kisu usoni na pia katika kifundo cha mkono wake na mshambuliaji aliyekuwa akibwata kuhusiana na suala la kugawanywa kwa kipande cha ardhi ya jumuiya yao.
Mara tu baada ya shambulio hilo Rais wa Marekani Barack Obama amemtakia uponaji wa haraka msaidizi wake wa zamani Mark Lippert akimuombea uponaji wa haraka baada tu ya shambulio lililofanywa wakati wa hotuba ya asubuhi.
Balozi huyo mwenye umri wa miaka 42 alikimbizwa hospitalini ambako alifanyiwa upasuaji wa zaidi ya saa mbili ingawa madaktari wamethibitisha majeraha yake hayatarishi maisha yake.
Jeraha lake limekadiriwa kuwa na sentimeta kumi na moja upande wa kushoto na ameshonwa nyuzi themanini kwenye mkono uliokatwa shambulio lililosababisha baadhi ya mishipa kushindwa kufanya kazi.Msemaji wa Ikulu ya Marekani amelaani kitendo hicho kwa nguvu zote .
Baada ya shambulio hilo maofisa wa polisi walionekana wakimrukia na kumdhibiti mshambuliaji aliyekuwa na kisu chenye urefu wa inchi kumi.
Polisi wamemtambua mshambuliaji huyo mwenye umri wa miaka 55 aitwaye Kim Ki-Jong, ambaye anakabiliwa na mashtaka ya shambulio kam hilo kwa kumshambulia balozi wa Japan nchini Seoul mnamo mwaka 2010.
Mkuu wa polisi Yoon Myung na amesema kwamba wanamshikilia mtuhumiwa huyo na wanachunguza sababu ya shambulio hilo na masuala mengine kumhusu .

Askari wakiwa wamemzunguka Balozi aliyejeruhiwa

Naye msemaji wa baraza la maridhiano na ushirikiano ambaye alikuwa ndiye muandaaji wa mkutano huo, ameomba radhi kwa kutokuwa na ulinzi madhubuti .
Balozi Lippert, ni mshauri wa muda mrefu wa Raisi Obama na mambaye pia aliwahi kuwa msaidizi wa katibu mkuu wa ulinzi katika masuala ya mahusiano na bara la Asia,na alipata nafasi ya kuwa balozi Korea Kusini mwezi October mwaka wa jana.
Lippert amewahi pia kushika wadhifa wa afisa wa usalama wa taifa katika paresheni maalum na alitwaa medali ya nyota ya shaba nyeusi wakati alipoitembelea Iraq.
Korea Kusini na Kaskazini walitengana tangu mwaka 1950-53 baada ya vita vya Korea nab ado kiufundi wako vitani kwakuwa mapigano yalisitishwa kwa suluhu .
Marekani na Korea Kusini wameunganisha nguvu za kijeshi na wiki hii wako katika mazoezi kufuatia hali tata ya kiusalama kutoka kwa wakomunisti walioko Kaskazini .
Pyongyang wanadai kuwa wana fanya mazoezi kwa kujiweka tayari na uvamizi wowote utakao tokea wakati huo huo Korea Kusini na Marekani wao wanadai kuwa mazoezi yao ni kwa kujihami tu .
Marekani inakadiriwa kuwa na vikosi vya askari wake wapatao30,000 vya kudumu vilivyopiga kambi Korea Kusini.chanzo.http://www.bbc.co.uk/…/20…/03/150305_us_ambassadorsouthkorea