Seoul - South Korean police said on Friday they were investigating possible links between a knife attack on the US ambassador to Seoul and the assailant's frequent past visits to North Korea as they review whether to charge him with attempted murder.
The head of the police team probing the attack also said they plan to seek a formal detention warrant on Friday against the Korean nationalist who slashed Ambassador Mark Lippert at a forum discussing Korean reunification on Thursday.
Yoon Myeong-seong, chief of police in the capital's Jongno district, told a news briefing the suspect, Kim Ki-jong, visited North Korea seven times between 1999 and 2007.
“We are investigating whether there is any connection between the suspect's visits to North Korea and the crime committed against the US ambassador,” Yoon said.
Police raided Kim's house and office early on Friday and he is likely to face charges for attempted murder, other police officials said.
Kim, who has been identified by police as a member of the pro-unification group that hosted the forum, said the attack was meant as a protest against joint military exercises by South Korean and US troops that began this week.
North Korean state media said the attack against Lippert was “deserved punishment” for the drills, calling the assault “the knife of justice”.
Lippert needed 80 stitches to close a gash in his face. He is recovering in a Seoul hospital and has said he is in “good spirits”.
Doctors at Yonsei University's Severance Hospital said on Friday Lippert was likely to remain there until early next week, when they plan to remove his stitches.
Lippert underwent surgery on Thursday for an 11cm-long gash on the right side of his face and a puncture wound on his left wrist that caused nerve damage, which was repaired.
Reuters