U.S. ambassador to Seoul Lippert stable after knife attack

U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, Mark Lippert is in stable condition after being attacked with a knife on Thursday morning.

Doctors treating him at Severance Hospital in Seoul said on Friday that Lippert is recovering well from the surgeries for the gashes on his face and wrist.

On Thursday morning, Kim Ki-Jong, the 55-year-old head of a nationalist civic group, attacked the envoy, wielding a 25 centimeter-long knife before a morning lecture for another civic group in central Seoul.

Seoul prosecutors have demanded an arrest warrant for Kim on charges of attempted murder and violation of the nation's security law.

South Korean President Park Geun-Hye gave extended consolations to Lippert via phone.Having been attacked in a similar manner in 2006, Park said that she empathizes with him deeply.

Park added that she will closely cooperate with the U.S. government to ensure the incident will not have any negative effects on relations between the two allies.

Lippert has reportedly said in Korean that he is moved by the outpouring of support he has received from the Korean people.