Diplomat’s sex assault prompts an apology

Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon met yesterday with the head of a Japanese news agency and a female Korean reporter who works for the agency to apologize for a sexual assault against the journalist by a Korean diplomat last week.
The Blue House is investigatiing the incident in which an unidentified mid-level diplomat admitted to forcing himself on the reporter and kissing her.
In a statement to ministry officials, the man said he was drunk when the “mistake” occurred.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday that the offending official was forced to step down from his post.
The ministry said the incident took place July 2 at a bar in the Gangnam district of Seoul.
The journalist reported what had happened to the head of the news agency who demanded a formal apology from the ministry.