YONHAP NEWS

(LEAD) One of 23 South Korean hostages killed: report

SEOUL, July 25 (Yonhap) -- Taliban kidnappers killed one of the 23 South Korean hostages and threatened to kill more if Taliban prisoners are not freed by 5:00 a.m. Korean time Thursday, news reports said, dampening the upbeat mood here after the release of eight captives earlier in the day.

   A self-styled Taliban spokesman said it is the final deadline.

   "Since Kabul's administration did not listen to our demand and did not free our prisoners, the Taliban shot dead a male Korean hostage," Qari Mohammad Yousuf was quoted as saying by Reuters. "If the administration of Kabul is not ready to release our hostages by 1:30 a.m. (local time), the rest of the hostages will be killed."
Seoul officials said they were trying to confirm the reported death.

   Meanwhile, a South Korean public broadcaster, KBS, identified the victim as 42-year-old South Korean pastor Bae Hyung-kyu.

   (END)