Hot on Facebook

Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds $26,000 Inside Seller tries to get half the cash back, fails »

Korean Hostage Talks Fail

Taliban says demands not met; group is considering the fate of 19 captives

By Wesley Oliver, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 18, 2007 11:46 AM CDT

(Newser) – As the 19 remaining Korean hostages await news of their fate, negotiations to secure their release have failed, according to a Taliban spokesman. The terror group says its principal demand—the liberation of insurgents being held by coalition forces—was not met; South Korean officials have insisted Seoul has no power to release captured them.

"I don't think further talks will yield anything," the spokesman said, adding that the Taliban’s leadership council was considering the fate of hostages. Two ill female hostages were released on Monday, but the insurgents have already killed two male captives.

A large banner displaying a message written in Korean, Arabic, center, and English hangs on a building in downtown Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2007. A Taliban spokesman reiterated on Sunday that... (Associated Press)

An Afghan walks by the Afghan Red Crescent Society of Ghazni province, where Taliban and South Korean delegations are discussing the fate of 21 South Korean hostages in the city of Ghazni province, west... (Associated Press)

Taliban representative Mawlawi Nasrullah talks with the media at the center of Afghan Red Crescent Society of Ghazni province, where Taliban and Korean delegations will meet to discuss the fate of 21... (Associated Press)

well and that the Taliban were sticking with their original demand, that 21 Taliban prisoners be released from prisons in Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq) (Associated Press)

Two South Korean hostages freed from Taliban captivity, Kim Kyung-ja, left, and Kim Gina, arrive at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, west of Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Aug. 17, 2007. The two... (Associated Press)

Two South Korean hostages freed from Taliban captivity, Kim Kyung-ja, left, and Kim Gina, react upon arrival at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, west of Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Aug. 17, 2007.... (Associated Press)

Two South Korean hostages freed from Taliban captivity, Kim Kyung-ja, center, and Kim Gina, right, are escorted by an officer after they arrived at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, west of Seoul,... (Associated Press)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Body of Second Korean Hostage Found

More will die unless prisoners are freed, kidnappers warn

(NEWSER) - Afghan police have found the body of a second Korean hostage killed by the Taliban, Reuters reports. The man was shot in the head, and his body found in a clover field close to the spot where 23 Korean missionaries were kidnapped last week. The kidnappers have threatened to kill more hostages unless the Afghan government releases all Taliban rebel prisoners by tomorrow. More»

Captive Pleads for Rescue From Taliban

Woman says she and 21 other South Korean hostages are ill

(NEWSER) - A South Korean woman pleaded to be rescued with her fellow hostages yesterday, saying all of church volunteers being held captive by the Taliban are sick and the situation is growing worse. Her captors listened to her conversation with an Afghan reporter, the BBC reports; the 32-year-old nurse wept as she spoke in Korean and Farsi, according to the Independent. More»

1 Killed, 8 Freed in Afghanistan Hostage Crisis

Taliban threatens to kill more South Koreans

(NEWSER) - The Taliban has killed one of the 23 South Koreans it's holding captive today, and vowed to murder the rest by 1 AM local time if the Afghan government does not release insurgents. CNN reports that 8 hostages have been freed, however, while the slain captive's bullet-riddled body was discovered by police in Central Afghanistan. More»

8 Korean Hostages Freed

Taliban freeing prisoners after reaching a deal with South Korea

(NEWSER) - The Taliban released eight hostages today, a day after reaching a deal with the South Korean government. Three who were released earlier this morning were brought to the town of Ghazni by tribal elders—acting as mediators—then handed over to the Red Cross. South Korea has agreed to pull out its troops from Afghanistan (as already planned) and stop its citizens from traveling there. More»

Deal Reached on Hostages

Taliban, Seoul agree on terms, including withdrawal of troops

(NEWSER) - Talks between the Taliban and the South Korean government have resulted in the outline of a deal to release the remaining 19 hostages held in Afghanistan for over a month. The agreement involves withdrawal of Korea's 200 noncombat troops and an end to missionary activity, CNN reports, but not payment of ransom. Their release may not be imminent. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Korean Hostage Talks Fail

Taliban says demands not met; group is considering the fate of 19 captives

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Afghanistan • Taliban • insurgents • South Korea • Seoul • kidnapping • Kabul • Korean hostages • negotiations • hostage

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Body of Second Korean Hostage Found

More will die unless prisoners are freed, kidnappers warn

Captive Pleads for Rescue From Taliban

Woman says she and 21 other South Korean hostages are ill

1 Killed, 8 Freed in Afghanistan Hostage Crisis

Taliban threatens to kill more South Koreans

8 Korean Hostages Freed

Taliban freeing prisoners after reaching a deal with South Korea

Deal Reached on Hostages

Taliban, Seoul agree on terms, including withdrawal of troops

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?

Korean Hostage Talks Fail

Taliban says demands not met; group is considering the fate of 19 captives

Bookmark & Share

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Afghanistan • Taliban • insurgents • South Korea • Seoul • kidnapping • Kabul • Korean hostages • negotiations • hostage

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Body of Second Korean Hostage Found

More will die unless prisoners are freed, kidnappers warn

Captive Pleads for Rescue From Taliban

Woman says she and 21 other South Korean hostages are ill

1 Killed, 8 Freed in Afghanistan Hostage Crisis

Taliban threatens to kill more South Koreans

8 Korean Hostages Freed

Taliban freeing prisoners after reaching a deal with South Korea

Deal Reached on Hostages

Taliban, Seoul agree on terms, including withdrawal of troops

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?