Report: U.S. Ambassador Attacked in South Korea

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Yonhap News

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean media say U.S. Ambassador Mark Lippert has been attacked while giving a lecture and taken to a hospital for treatment.

Yonhap news agency said Lippert was injured, but it wasn’t clear the exact nature of his injuries. YTN TV showed a picture of Lippert bleeding from the head and wrist but said his injuries weren’t seen as life threatening. Calls to Embassy and police weren’t immediately returned on Thursday. YTN said a man only identified by his surname, Kim, was arrested after the attack.

Lippert, 42, became ambassador last year and has been mostly popular 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 Defense for Asian affairs.

Update: Yonhap News Agency in South Korea is reporting that the man attacked Lippert while en route to a lecture at 7:40 A.M. local time. Kim is described as being 55 years of age and was heard shouting opposition to new joint U.S.-South Korea military exercises which attacking the ambassador. Yonhap adds that Kim has a history of violent attacks:

Police said Kim may be treated at a hospital for a foot injury before facing questioning.

In July 2010, Kim received a suspended two-year prison term for throwing a piece of concrete at a Japanese ambassador to Seoul.

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