Security: Plan to kidnap South Koreans in Afghanistan

The South Korean government has urged Korean travellers in Afghanistan to exercise extreme caution, citing a recent intelligence report suggesting a group of armed insurgents there may attempt to kidnap South Korean travellers.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is taking appropriate measures to protect our citizens in the Afghan city of Torkham, as it has received an intelligence report stating that Taliban forces based in Peshawar, Pakistan, are planning to kidnap South Koreans travelling from Torkham to the capital, Kabul," the ministry said in a press release.

The ministry said the insurgents appear to be working toward the release of one of their top leaders, who was arrested about a year ago.

"The reason they chose South Koreans as their target is believed to be because Koreans (in Afghanistan) often travel by land" with few security measures, the ministry said.

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