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Purported Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi made the announcement to the Afghan Islamic Press over the phone Wednesday. Qarabagh district Taliban commander Abdullah Jan, who led the abduction, told the Chosun Ilbo’s local correspondent Wednesday he remains hopeful that face-to-face negotiations will produce the release of the Korean hostages. The Afghan delegates to the direct talks are Mullah Bashir and Mullah Nasrullah, who Jan said had the authority to make a decision at the negotiations.

He said resumption of the face-to-face talks means that there is progress in negotiations, adding the results will determine whether additional captives will be freed. Jan said the remaining hostages are in better health than the two women who were freed on Monday, and the Taliban are doing everything possible to take care of the hostages.

(englishnews@chosun.com )