GHAZNI, Afghanistan (ABP) — Two of the 23 South Korean hostages kidnapped by the Taliban last month were released Aug. 12.
Associated Press reported Kim Kyung-ja, 37, and Kim Ji-na, 32, were driven to waiting Red Cross vehicles in rural Afghanistan and then transferred to a United States military base.
The kidnapping victims all are members of Saemmul Community Church in Bundang, South Korea. Their leader, Bae Hyung-Kyu, 42, was found dead July 25. A second hostage, Shim Sung-min, 29, was reported dead July 31.
A Taliban spokesman told reporters the hostages were released “for the sake of good relations between the Korean people and the Taliban.” In exchange for the hostages, the kidnappers have demanded the release of 21 militants incarcerated by the Afghan government and U.S. military. Afghan leaders have refused to release any prisoners.
Korean leaders have insisted that the church workers were providing social services in Afghanistan, not evangelizing.
Fourteen women and five men are still being held.
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