South Korea police seek attempted murder warrant against attacker of US envoy

South Korean police said on Friday they have requested a court-issued detention warrant for an assailant who slashed the U.S. ambassador to Seoul in the face, with the charges to include attempted murder.

Ambassador Mark Lippert suffered wounds to his face and hand and remains in hospital after Thursday's attack, although his injuries are not life-threatening. Police are investigating possible links between the attack and visits made by the assailant, identified as Kim Ki-jong, to North Korea in the past.

US ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert was slashed in the face by a Korean nationalist but was not seriously hurt during an attack at a breakfast forum held in the capital on Thursday to discuss Korean reunification, police and witnesses said.

Lippert, 42, was bleeding from a facial wound but was walking after the attack as he was taken to the hospital. He was later reported to be in stable condition and officials in Washington said his injuries were not life-threatening. "We strongly condemn this act of violence," U.S. State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said.