North Korea Threatens US Ambassador With “Mishap” After Diplomat’s Speech

Ambassador Lippert speaking during a farewell reception hosted by Republic of Korea Ambassador to the United States Ahn Ho-Young.

Photo Courtesy of Ash Carter / Flickr Creative Commons

Ambassador Lippert speaking during a farewell reception hosted by Republic of Korea Ambassador to the United States Ahn Ho-Young.

Kelly Chartrand, Online News Editor

U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert, who was attacked on Mar. 5 by a South Korean man at a breakfast forum in central Seoul, now faces potentially larger threats from the Northern State.

According to the Huffington Post, soon after Lippert’s speech on Apr. 15, an unnamed North Korean propaganda committee said that the ambassador could face a “bigger mishap” than the knife attack if he did not stop disrespecting North Korea with his “laughable” allegations.

In his address, Lippert stated that North Korea could potentially improve its relationship with the United States and the world at large by promoting its respect for human rights and halting its nuclear program. The ambassadors comments clearly did not sit will with the regime as North Korean propaganda websites were quickly filled with the committee’s response to his speech.

“Lippert needs to drop the bad habit of rashly engaging in scheming chatter, distorting the truth and instigating war by taking issue with us… otherwise, next time, he could face a bigger mishap than getting cut in the cheek by a South Korean citizen,” the committee stated in a post on the Uriminzokkiri propaganda website on Apr. 16.

This so-called warning, which has been interpreted by many as more of a threat, continued on to address Lippert’s statements directly.

“It is unbearable insult and mockery against us and a laughable and brazen charge that cannot be overlooked,” the committee said.

Although Kim Ki-jong, the South Korean man who committed the initial attack against Lippert, was not linked directly to the Northern State, North Korea released a statement calling the act of violence a “deserved punishment” quickly after its occurrence. Ki-jong reportedly yelled about reuniting the Koreas during the attack on Lippert, in which he slashed the ambassador across the face with a fruit knife.

According to the New York Post, Ki-jong had a history of erratic behavior, and left Lippert with a gash requiring 80 stitches and other injuries to his arm. Ki-jong was later charged by South Korean police with attempted murder, and, after being questioned over his multiple visits, was relieved of any North Korean crime.

North and South Korea are still technically at war since an armistice was signed in 1953 rather than a peace treaty. With the United States continuing to remain one of South Korea’s most prominent supporters, the Northern State has accused the US of planning an imminent invasion of their home.

According to the Korea Times, North Korean President Kim Jong-Un has said that the threat of invasion from the US is at a more serious level than at any other time since he came to power three years ago. He has called for full-combat readiness of the North Korean army in light of this possible attack.

The U.S. State Department has acknowledged the existence of the statement, but has only commented that it is “unfortunately consistent with the nature of the regime and its rhetoric.”

The U.S. Embassy in Seoul did not have an immediate comment on the statements made.

 

 

 

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