S. Korea hostage families send messages of hope, pleading for US help

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Source: CCTV.com | 08-02-2007 15:22

The husband of one of the South Korean hostages sent an emotional message to his wife at a press briefing in Seoul on Wednesday.

And according to an official, South Korea and the US have ruled out the possibility of military action to secure the release of the hostages. The official from the South Korean Foreign Ministry made the statement after Foreign Minister Song Min-soon and US Deputy Secretary of State, John Negroponte discussed the issue during a meeting in Manila on Thursday on the sidelines of an Asian security conference.

Kim Yoon-young is one of the 23 South Koreans who were travelling on the bus as it was taken along the Kabul-kandahar highway in Afghanistan on July 19th.

Ryu Haeng-Sik, Kim Yoon-Young's husband, said, "I hate myself for eating and sleeping. I know you are in pain and in a difficult situation. I have told our children that their mother loves Afghan children so much, that she has decided to stay there longer. They're so proud of you. They say you went there to help sick and poor people."

Militants still want the Afghan government to meet their key demand to release Taliban prisoners in exchange for the lives of the South Korean hostages. Two hostages have already been killed in captivity. One of the dead, Pastor Bae Hyung-kyu died from multiple gunshot wounds.

Park Sang-Eun, doctor and family representative, said, "The cause of death was multiple gunshots, mainly to his head. We guess he was shot with six bullets. He was facing away with his back turned to the shooters. He then received a further gunshot through his forehead to make sure he was dead."

On Wednesday, desperate relatives begged the US to help with the crisis. They believe American intervention might help to free the remaining 21 South Koreans from Taliban captivity.

Park Eun-Jo, pastor, said, "We sincerely ask you again to pray for the 21 remaining volunteers gone to the land of Afghanistan to come back safely. Once again, we apologize and there is nothing else we can say but we're deeply sorry."

South Korea's presidential office says it will not just "sit by and watch".

Editor:Du Xiaodan