"Negotiators from Korea held talks with Taliban from 5:48 to 7:20 p.m. Korean time,” presidential spokesman Cheon Ho-seon told reporters. “The two sides reached agreement on the release of all 19 Korean hostages on condition that the Korean government withdraws its troops in Afghanistan by the end of this year and bans missionary work by Korean Christians in Afghanistan."

A video grab from a breaking news report of presidential spokesman Cheon Ho-Seon's announcement that the government has reached agreement with Taliban kidnappers for the release of 19 Korean hostages in Afghanistan on Tuesday./Courtesy of YTN

However, the agreement does not mean the immediate release of the hostages, he said, and the government will negotiate further with the Taliban. “When the hostages are released, we will send them to the Afghan capital of Kabul for medical checkups and take them to Korea as soon as possible," Cheon added.

Asked whether the Taliban set other conditions for the hostages’ release such as the freeing of Taliban prisoners, the spokesman said, "The government has persuaded the Taliban that releasing Taliban prisoners is beyond its power. The Taliban appear to understand our point. It also seems that they were inconvenienced by holding as many as 19 people for such a long time."

(englishnews@chosun.com )