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South Korea seeks 15 years in jail for man accused in U.S. envoy attack

The attacker used instruments that could have killed the ambassador, according to South Korea's prosecutors.

By Elizabeth Shim
Kim Ki-jong is accused of attacking U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Mark Lippert with a knife on March 5. Prosecutors have charged him with attempted murder and on Thursday said they are seeking a 15-year jail sentence in the case. File Photo by Yonhap
Kim Ki-jong is accused of attacking U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Mark Lippert with a knife on March 5. Prosecutors have charged him with attempted murder and on Thursday said they are seeking a 15-year jail sentence in the case. File Photo by Yonhap

SEOUL, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- South Korean prosecutors are seeking 15 years in jail and five years probation for the man accused of slashing the top U.S. envoy to Seoul with a knife.

Kim Ki-jong has been charged with attempted murder in the attack, as well as violence against a foreign envoy, business obstruction and violation of South Korea's anti-communist National Security Law, Yonhap reported Thursday.

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South Koreans who are charged with showing political support for the regime in Pyongyang face penalties before the law. South Korean newspaper Korea Economic Daily reported Kim had initiated the assault on U.S. Ambassador Mark Lippert in response to North Korea condemnations of the U.S.-South Korea joint exercises.

"When North Korea demanded an end to the U.S.-South joint drills, [Kim] was spurred to place the U.S. ambassador in personal danger," South Korean prosecutors said.

The prosecutors also said the intention of the March 5 attack was clear, and that Kim used instruments that could have led to the ambassador's death.

"Heavy punishment is inevitable as [Kim] clearly acted following North Korea's accusation," the prosecution said.

North Korea has hailed the assailant as a patriotic hero, but also has denied any involvement in the attack.

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During investigations into the case, police uncovered several documents of North Korean origin in Kim's possession, including a volume on North Korean cinema by former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and at least five other books published in North Korea. Kim most likely acquired the books when he traveled to North Korea between 1999 and 2007.

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