Police investigating the knife attack on the US ambassador to South Korea say a charge of attempted murder is likely to be laid.<br /><br /> Investigators are also probing possible links between the attack at a unification forum in Seoul and the attacker’s frequent visits to North Korea. <br /><br /> The South Korean Prime Minister has visited the ambassador, Mark Lippert, in hospital, where he needed 80 stitches after his face and hand were slashed.<br /><br /> Lee Wan-Koo told reporters afterwards that he hoped the alliance between the US and South Korea will be strengthened.<br /><br /> The assailant is described as a 55-year-old Korean nationalist who was protesting against annual US-South Korean military exercises that began last week.<br /><br /> In 2010 the man tried to attack the Japanese ambassador by throwing a piece of concrete.<br /><br /> North Korea praised the attack on Lippert as “deserved punishment” for the military exercises.
