hankyoreh

Any military operation to rescue 23 South Korean hostages in Afghanistan would not be carried out without Seoul's consent, the presidential office said Monday.

Afghanistan's Defense Ministry earlier said its troops launched a joint operation with international forces to rescue the Koreans held by Taliban insurgents, but later revoked the claim, citing "a computer error."

"The rescue operation will not be conducted without our government's consent," Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Cheon Ho-seon said.

"Consultations on this have already been held."

The Koreans, all Christian volunteer workers, were seized by armed Taliban fighters at gun point on Thursday while traveling in a bus from Kabul to the southern city of Kandahar. The Taliban said they would start to kill the Koreans, unless Afghanistan releases 23 Taliban prisoners and Seoul pulls out its 210 troops from the war-torn country. The Taliban initially set a Saturday deadline, but extended it by one day as negotiations to release the Koreans continued, and extended it again to 7 p.m. local time on Monday (14:30 GMT).

South Korea has been in contact with the Taliban forces through the Kabul government to win the safe release of the Koreans. A South Korean delegation arrived in Kabul on Sunday.

"We're analyzing what substantial and final demands the kidnappers have and what is the most important thing for them," Cheon said, adding South Korea will take all available measures to free the hostages.

SEOUL, July 23 (Yonhap News)