S Korea hails release of two S Korean hostages in Afghanistan

Source: Xinhuanet | 08-14-2007 08:54

SEOUL, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun on Monday hails the release of two South Korean hostages in Afghanistan, urging an early release of all South Korean hostages in the middle-Asian country.

At a statement issued on Monday, Roh said "The South Korean government is pleased, along with the entire Korean people, at the release of two of the Korean captives held in Afghanistan. But the government still regrets the protracted captivity of the remaining19 hostages."

The president instructed the government to do its utmost to secure the release of all the other hostages as soon as possible and reiterated that South Korea would maintain close cooperation with the Afghan government and international society to gain the release of the remaining hostages, the statement said.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry confirmed late Monday that two South Korean female hostages were released in Afghanistan.

According to Foreign Ministry Spokesman Cho Hee-yong, the released hostages are identified as Kim Gina, 32, and Kim Kyung-ja,37.

The two hostages have been handed over to South Korean officials in Afghanistan on Monday and will be flown back to South Korea as soon as possible, the spokesman said.

Before being sent back to South Korea, the released hostages will receive a medical checkup at a South Korean military unit in Bagram, about 100 km north of Kabul, he said.

"We feel fortunate that at least some of the hostages have been released, but we again urge the kidnappers to immediately release all our citizens they hold hostage," Cho said.

According to Cho, the two female hostages can walk by themselves when being transferred to the South Korean side. "They seemed to be not in critical conditions," he said.

Following the release of the two hostages, the families of the South Korean hostages held a news briefing in Seoul. They expressed their gratitude to the efforts made by all the related parties and appealed the safe release of all the remaining hostages as soon as possible.

A total of 23 South Koreans were kidnapped by Taliban militants in Afghanistan on July 19. The militants have killed two male hostages so far. There are still 19 South Koreans currently held as hostages by the militants.

Editor:Du Xiaodan