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| Afghanistan |
| Two S Korean hostages arrive home |
| 2007-08-18 |
| Two South Korean hostages freed from Taliban captivity arrived home on Friday. But there was little progress reported in negotiations for the release of 19 others still being held by the insurgent group in Afghanistan. The two women Kim Gina, 32 and Kim Kyung-ja, 37 were released earlier this week and had been undergoing medical care in Afghanistan before heading home. After arriving at Incheon International Airport outside Seoul, the two stood with grim expressions before a throng of journalists. ''I want to thank the Korean government and the Korean people for their concerns and sincerely apologise for causing such worries,'' Kim Kyung-ja said. ''I hope for the safe release of the rest of our team members as well.'' ''All I wish for is the release of the rest of our team members,'' said Kim Gina. They walked on their own to a waiting ambulance. The two were to be admitted to a military hospital south of Seoul because the government wants to keep them away from the media over concerns that what they say could affect negotiations to free the remaining hostages, news reports said. Kim Kyung-ja works at a software development company and Kim Gina teaches digital animation at a local technical college, according to news reports. A second round of face-to-face talks in Afghanistan between South Korean officials and Taliban militants on the remaining hostages ended Thursday with no breakthrough, the militants said. |
| Posted by:Fred |