South Korean demonstrator stabs himself in the stomach during rally demanding Japanese apology for its war crimes

Protestor plunged a knife into his stomach during a rally at an airport in South Korea today

Kim Chang-geun, 57, is part of a group calling upon Japan to issue an apology for its actions during the Second World War



A South Korean demonstrator stabbed himself in the stomach at a rally calling on Japan to issue an official apology for its actions during the Second World War.

Kim Chang-geun, 57, a member of an anti-Japan group, plunged the knife into his stomach at Gimpo Airport in Seoul, South Korea, today.

The protest was organised to coincide with the arrival in the country of the special envoy of Shinzo Abe, Japan's conservative new prime minister.



Impassioned protest: South Korean protestor Kim Chang-geun (right) is seen stabbing himself in the stomach with a knife during a rally demanding an official apology from Japan for its actions during WWII

Photographs show the stoical 57-year-old clasping the blood-stained knife and looking around him at the airport, before wincing as he is eventually led away by police officers.

Abe's envoy was to meet with South Korea's president-elect Park Guen-hye for discussions aimed at soothing tensions over disputed islands that lie roughly half way between the two nations.

Both countries lay claim to the islands, which are known as Dokdo in South Korea and Takeshima in Japan.



Shocking: Stoical Kim Chang-geun knifed himself at the rally at Gimpo Airport in Seoul, South Korea, today

Demonstration: The protestor clasps the blood-stained knife at the rally, organised to denounce Japan's conservative new prime minister Shinzo Abe