Taliban Full Text of Statement on Kidnapping

The following is the official English text of a statement released by South Korea's Security

Policy Coordination Council shortly after its emergency meeting at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae on Thursday.

The Korean Government is deeply saddened by the news that one of the Korean hostages in Afghanistan was killed by the Taliban kidnappers. We pray for the repose of the soul of the victim and extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, who are in a state of great shock and deep sorrow, as well as to the Korean people.

Along with the Korean people, the Government strongly protests their act of brutality in killing an innocent civilian. We once again strongly urge them to promptly return home the Korean citizens taken hostage.

The Korean Government clearly states that the organization responsible for the abduction will be held accountable for taking the life of a Korean citizen. The killing of an innocent citizen cannot be justified under any circumstance or for any reason, and any such inhumane act can't be tolerated.

The Korean Government will exert all possible efforts and cooperate with the governments of Afghanistan and other related countries so that the Korean citizens held hostage will be able to return to the arms of their families safely and at the earliest possible time.

Once more, we offer profound words of consolation to the families of the citizens taken hostage in Afghanistan.