A government banner supporting the peaceful reunification of North Korea and South Korea in downtown Seoul. South Korean police have charged armed assailant Kim Ki-jong with attempted murder, assault of a diplomatic envoy and disturbance of the peace. UPI/Stephen Shaver |
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SEOUL, March 13 (UPI) -- South Korean police investigating the armed attacker who assaulted the top U.S. envoy to Seoul said they are looking into the assailant's connections and whether he will be found guilty of violating South Korea's National Security Law, reported Yonhap.
The assailant, Kim Ki-jong, had a history of expressing anti-U.S. sentiments in public, police investigator Kim Cheol-jun said Friday. Kim Ki-jong targeted the ambassador because he was a representative of the United States, and his past activities were a precursor to the attack on March 5.
In a March 6 interview with South Korean press, Kim denied any links to the North, but Yonhap reported he lightly nodded when asked whether his intention was to murder the top U.S. envoy.
In interrogations with the police, Kim then denied any intention to kill, but the investigator said the evidence contradicted Kim's statement.
The police said Kim Ki-jong has been charged with attempted murder, assault of a diplomatic envoy and disturbance of the peace. They said they are in the process of inspecting 43 documents that were in Kim's possession, including books of North Korean origin.
Kim Ki-jong, 55, could be tried for violating South Korea's National Security Law if police investigation uncovers evidence Kim has outwardly praised or supported the North Korean regime.
Kim's role as the head of Urimadang Dokdo Keepers, which claimed the disputed islets of Dokdo, or Takeshima, has brought attention to similar organizations that have made it their mission to advocate for territorial sovereignty in the disputed zone, South Korea's Herald Business reported.
South Korea has de facto control over Dokdo, but its sovereignty also has been claimed by Japan.
The Herald's investigations revealed of the 28 such advocacy groups registered with the South Korean government, about 10 groups were no longer active.
Analysts told the newspaper territorial advocacy was a way to gain public interest and funding from the government -- and Kim could be one of many activists who lead defunct or inactive organizations.
