Story highlights Kim Ki-Jong is convicted of attempted murder

He slashed Lippert in the face in March

The deep slash luckily missed major facial nerves

Seoul (CNN) A man accused of stabbing Mark Lippert, the U.S. ambassador to South Korea, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison, the Seoul Central District Court said Friday.

Kim Ki-Jong, 55, was convicted of attempted murder, assaulting a foreign envoy and business obstruction in the March 5 attack

The U.S. Embassy in Seoul commended investigators in the case and thanked South Koreans for their support.

"We continue to appreciate the strong support of the Korean people and the Korean government following the attack on Ambassador Lippert in March," said embassy spokesman Daniel Turnbull. "This support demonstrates the deep friendship between our peoples."

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The stabbing

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