Prosecutors probe pro-N.K. links to envoy attacker

The prosecution on Friday expanded its investigation into a knife attack on U.S. Ambassador Mark Lippert with top officials billing it an act of terrorism by pro-North Korean forces.

Police sought an arrest warrant for the attacker, Kim Ki-jong, on charges of attempted murder, violence against a foreign envoy and obstruction of official duty. The 55-year-old leftist activist was detained Thursday after slashing the envoy in the face and wrist with a 25-centimeter-long paring knife.

Police said they found a number of materials which indicated his pro-North Korean views during raids on his home and office in western Seoul early in the morning. They also sought a warrant to track Kim’s phone records.
 

Kim claimed that he acted alone but President Park Geun-hye and top officials called for the law enforcement agencies to ferret out possible masterminds of the assault condemning pro-North Korean elements.

“We concurred that this incident should be defined as an act by the followers of North Korea and the masterminds and the truth behind it should be thoroughly investigated,” said Yoo Seong-min, floor leader of the ruling Saenuri Party after a three-way meeting of top-level officials from the presidential office, the party and the administration.

During a trip to the UAE, President Park also instructed a thorough investigation.

“As the suspect was found to have committed similar crimes before, (investigators) must thoroughly reveal the case to prevent any reoccurrence, including why the suspect committed the attack and whether there was someone behind it,” Park was quoted as saying.

Investigators are looking into whether the attacker violated the National Security Law. Kim has reportedly claimed that he did not have any intentions to kill the envoy and committed the attack on his own because he wanted to stop the ongoing bilateral military drills that kicked off earlier this week.

The authorities, however, suspected that Kim had planned the crime 10 days in advance and that he attacked the ambassador’s face and hand multiple times with willful negligence. The court will determine whether to arrest the suspect no later than Saturday, the police said.

The Unification Ministry has confirmed that he had visited North Korea seven times between 1999 and 2007. Kim toured Mount Geungangsan one time and visited the border city of Gaeseong six times to participate in tree-planting events as a member of a left-wing civic group, the ministry said.

He had also attempted to set up an altar near Seoul City Hall in memory of the North’s former leader Kim Jong-il after the dictator’s death in December 2011, it added.

In order to investigate whether there were others behind the attack, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office launched a special probe team, comprised of about 100 police officers and prosecutors. The team will be led by prosecutors in charge of anticommunism and antiterrorism, officials said.

The special probe team will further investigate how and why the suspect had planned the crime, they added.

Meanwhile, Lippert is recovering and in a stable condition after undergoing an emergency surgery, medical staff said.

By Lee Hyun-jeong (rene@heraldcorp.com)