News / World
Taliban Militants Claim to have Killed One of 23 South Korean Hostages
Taliban militants reportedly shot and killed one of the 23 South Korean hostages after the man became too sick and could not walk.
The 23 South Koreans were kidnapped on July 19 while traveling on the Kabul-Kandahar highway in Afghanistan. The 18 women and 5 men had been working in the southern city of Kandahar, providing free medical and educational services as part of their church outreach. Claims that the group had been sent to Afghanistan for evangelical work were dismissed by South Korean president Roh Moo-hyun as well as the pastor of their church. The Taliban had outlawed the Christian Gospel when they controlled Afghanistan.
Reports had indicated that eight hostages were freed but that number has not been verified. The Taliban is demanding that Afghanistan release a similar number of their prisoners from government captivity as well as assurance from South Korea that they will remove troops from the country.
