According to reports from militants holding a South Korean hostage in Iraq, the deadline for his execution has been extended. Iraqi mediators say that the militants agreed to spend more time negotiating the fate of their 33-year-old hostage. On Sunday, the kidnappers linked to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the terrorist leader, threatened to kill Mr. Kim within 24 hours if the South Korean government did not agree to withdraw its forces from Iraq. South Korea rejected the kidnappers' demand and stated that it would continue with its plan to send 3,000 troops to Iraq in August to join the 600 South Korean forces currently present in Iraq. A South Korean delegation is in Jordan coordinating efforts to rescue Mr. Kim. Meanwhile, Iraqi police are investigating the murder of the dean of the law school at Mosul University and her husband. The police discovered the victims' bodies on Tuesday in front of their home.
Deadline for Execution of South Korean Hostage in Iraq Extended - 2004-06-22
The deadline for the execution of a South Korean hostage in Iraq has been extended as negotiations continue. The hostage-takers, linked to a prominent terrorist leader, threatened to kill him unless South Korea withdraws its troops. South Korea remains firm on its military commitment in Iraq.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Militants extended execution deadline for South Korean hostage Kim in Iraq amid ongoing negotiations.
- militants negotiate Kim, South Korean government
- South Korean government reject militants
- militants threaten Kim
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The hostage situation underscores the complexities of military involvement in Iraq.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%