A local court issued a formal arrest warrant for the attacker Monday, saying he's a flight risk. He later asked for a review of the legitimacy of his arrest, but the court rejected the request.

Police have wrapped up an investigation and will send the case to the prosecution Monday, officials said.

The assailant told police that before the attack, he went to Paju, north of Seoul, to protest against anti-North Korean activists' campaign of sending propaganda leaflets toward the North. After seeing the event foiled by police, he went to the National Assembly, where Kim was staging the fasting protest.

After the assault, the suspect yelled to express his hatred toward the conservative opposition party and call for the parliament to cooperate in promoting inter-Korean reconciliation.

He told police that he had originally planned to attack LKP leader Hong Joon-pyo but couldn't find him. (Yonhap)