The South Korean foreign minister said Monday he agreed with the U.S. ambassador to Seoul to step up efforts to cement the bilateral alliance despite last week's shocking attack on the envoy here.

The pledge between Yun Byung-se and Mark Lippert came amid some jitters over the future course of the bilateral alliance following the knife attack on the U.S. envoy by a South Korean extremist activist.

The 55-year-old activist with a criminal record slashed Lippert's face and wrist while he was preparing for a speech at a breakfast event in central Seoul on Thursday.

"Amb. Lippert is likely to get discharged from the hospital soon in very good condition," Yun told reporters at Severance Hospital in western Seoul, where Lippert is recovering.

"(Lippert) told me several times that despite difficult conditions the South Korea-U.S. alliance will become very solid and stronger."

Only hours after returning to Seoul earlier Monday from a nine-day, four-nation trip to the Middle East with President Park Geun-hye, Yun visited the hospitalized ambassador.

Lippert also vowed to make more efforts to tighten the alliance after he gets discharged from the hospital, the minister said.

"We resolved to work again toward a South Korea-U.S. alliance that will not be fazed by any threats and will overcome any crisis or challenge," the foreign minister said, adding, "South Koreans highly regard the courage and bravery Amb. Lippert has shown." (Yonhap)