Seoul, Mar 4 (EFE).– The U.S. ambassador to South Korea, Mark Lippert, was wounded on Thursday, local time, when he was attacked by a knife-wielding man who said he was against the joint military maneuvers being staged by Washington and Seoul this week.

The suspect, identified as a 55-year-old man with the surname Kim, slashed the face and wrist of the ambassador as he arrived at a conference in downtown Seoul, the Yonhap news agency reported.

Television images showed the envoy bleeding from the head and arm, although his injuries proved not to be serious, South Korean media reported.

The 42-year-old Lippert, who has been in the post since last year, was transported to a nearby hospital after the attack, and South Korean authorities immediately arrested the attacker.

The suspect shouted that he was against the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle military maneuvers that the U.S. and South Korean armies jointly began in South Korean territory on Monday, police said.

Each year, the allied nations carry out simulations – including land, sea and air maneuvers – designed to hone their readiness to respond to a North Korean attack.

Kim also shouted during his assault on the diplomat that he was in favor of reuniting the two Koreas, according to local YTN television.

In July 2010, the suspect had been convicted of throwing a chunk of cement at the Japanese ambassador to Seoul, Yonhap reported. EFE