Security questioned in probe of attack on US envoy to Seoul

Police today investigated the motive of the anti-US activist they say slashed the US ambassador to South Korea, as questions turned to whether security was neglected.
The attack yesterday on Mark Lippert, which prompted rival North Korea to gloat about "knife slashes of justice," left deep gashes on his face and hand and damaged tendons and nerves. It also raised safety worries in a city with a reputation as a relatively low-risk diplomatic posting, despite regular threats of war from North Korea.
While an extreme example, the attack is the latest act of political violence in a deeply divided country where some protesters portray their causes as matters of life and death.

Lippert, 42, was recovering well but complaining of pain in the wound near his left wrist and a finger where doctors repaired nerve damage, Severance Hospital official Yoon Do-Heum said in a televised briefing. Doctors plan to remove the 80 stitches on Lippert's face on Monday or Tuesday and expect him to be out of the hospital by Tuesday or Wednesday.
Hospital officials say he may experience sensory problems in his left hand for several months.
Seoul Central District Court granted a police request for the formal arrest of the suspect, Kim Ki-jong, 55, who could face charges including attempted murder, assaulting a foreign envoy, obstruction, and violating a controversial law that bans praise or assistance for North Korea, police officials said.

Police searched Kim's offices and house and seized hundreds of documents, books and computer files. Police also obtained Kim's telecommunication and financial transaction records to help investigate how the attack was planned and whether others were involved, police officials said in a televised briefing.

Police are also looking into Kim's past travels to North Korea seven times between 1999 and 2007 during a previous era of inter-Korean cooperation, when South Korea was led by a liberal government.
Kim, who has a long history of anti-U.S. And violent protests, said he acted alone in the attack on Lippert. He told police he was protesting annual US-South Korean military drills that started Monday exercises that the North has long maintained are preparations for an invasion. Kim said the drills, which Seoul and Washington say are purely defensive, ruined efforts for reconciliation between the Koreas, according to police officials.

Security for Lippert was another focus.
US ambassadors have security details, but their size largely depends on the threat level of the post. It's not clear how many guards Lippert had at the downtown venue where he was attacked, but since Seoul is seen as fairly safe, the number of guards would have been fewer than for American ambassadors in most of the Middle East.