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South Korean police to charge attacker with attempted murder

South Korean police are looking to charge Ambassador Mark Lippert's attacker, Kim Ki-Jong with attempted murder although Kim has stated that he didn't intent to kill Lipert.

Following an attack on the United States envoy to South Korea which left him needing 80 stitches, South Korean police say they are seeking charges of attempted murder against the attcker.

Ambassador Mark Lippert was attacked yesterday by  55-year-old Kim Ki-Jong; whoa history of nationalist militant acts, and is currently recuperating in the hospital.

During the attack, Kim called for the  reunification of the two Koreas. Police say they were also investigating Mr Kim's links with North Korea, after it was revealed he had made multiple visits, BBC reports.

A small group of people in South Korea see the US as the main obstacle to the reunification of a divided Korean peninsula.

Yoon Myeong-seong, head of Seoul's central Jongno district said authorities wanted to charge Kim with attempted murder, violence against a foreign envoy and business obstruction. To this end, police have requested a formal detention warrant.

Kim, who was apprehended after the incident, however told the police that he did not intend to kill Mr Lippert.

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