South Korea has condemned the killing of a South Korean hostage by Taleban insurgents in Afghanistan, and say those responsible will be held to account. VOA's Kurt Achin reports from Seoul.
Families at a church near Seoul wailed in horror at learning 42-year-old Bae Hyung-ku had been killed by Taleban insurgents.
Afghan officials say Bae's body, riddled with bullets, was dumped near where he and 22 other South Korean Christian activists where taken hostage a week ago.
Baek Jong-chun, a senior secretary to South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, expressed condolences to Bae's family, and condemned the killing.
Baek says the kidnappers will be held accountable for taking the life of a South Korean citizen.
Self-described Taleban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi says Bae was killed because Afghan and South Korean officials refused to free a number of imprisoned Taleban.
The other hostages are believed to be alive in Taleban custody. Earlier reports that eight had been free were inaccurate.
Ahmadi says that although a hostage has been killed, negotiations over the rest are still possible.