

South Korean presidential spokesman Cheon Ho-sun said from Seoul that the deal had been reached “on the condition that South Korea withdraws troops by the end of year and South Korea suspends missionary work in Afghanistan,” he said.


South Korean missionaries have been active in Afghanistan, but travel to the country independently.

The government has insisted that the 19 kidnapped South Koreans were not missionaries, but were doing aid work.

There was no word on when the captives would be released.

The Taliban had also been demanding the release of militant prisoners in exchange for the captives’ freedom. Afghan officials had ruled out any exchange, saying such a move will only encourage further kidnappings.

The Taliban kidnapped 23 South Koreans as they traveled by bus from Kabul to the former Taliban stronghold of Kandahar on July 19. In late July, the militants executed two male hostages. They released two women earlier this month as a good will gesture.

