Afghan Islamic Press and Christian Post have updates on the 21 of the remaining South Koreans who were kidnapped by Taliban July 19th. Two of the hostages have been killed since the abduction. 
Two of the female hostages are said to be ill.
The latest deadline has passed and Afghan Islamic Press reports South Korean government representatives are to meet with the 21 remaining hostages. South Korea diplomats have asked the US to intervene.

Yonhap News and Al Jazeera are reporting the Taliban have said they will kill four more hostages since demands have not been met since the end of the latest deadline.

The bodies of four Afghan judges believed killed by Taliban fighters have been found. A German Taliban hostage video tape has surfaced

The Marmot’s Hole  says Korean media site Joongang-Ilbo is reporting military action may be taken.

I’m taking this with a grain of salt, but according to the Joong-Ilbo, it seems like that some in the MND are quietly pushing and planning for the military option in Afghanistan. According to outside military experts the so called plan may involve two ROK Army Special Forces brigades, one ROKMC infantry regiment, and supporting troops to deploy to Ghazni province and hunt down the Taliban.  No word on whether this plan also includes the hostage rescue, but from the looks of it, it sounds more like a retaliatory operation than a rescue operation. Of course, the ROK contingent won’t exactly be self sufficient.  The MND will probably ask for the U.S. to provide support in the form of intelligence, helicopters, armored vehicles, artillery, and Close Air Support.USA Today:

Afghan National Army helicopters on Wednesday dropped leaflets in Ghazni province — where the Koreans were kidnapped and are being held — warning people of an upcoming military operation in the area. 

The Defense Ministry wants to launch a military operation in the area,” the leaflets said. “In order for you to be safe and not be affected by the operation, we call on you to move to secure government-controlled areas.”

Update: Families of the hostages have met with with the US embassy officials today. They were told their concerns would be forwarded to Washington.  US State Department spokesman Tom Casy restated the position of none negoitiation with kidnappers. South Korea is sending a government officials to the US for talks.

Reuters  is reporting Taliban spokesman Qari Mohammad Yousuf says there are  ’increased provocations’ in the region.. Agence Presse France, (Chosun Ilbo) and Afghan Islamic Press are reporting that is not the case, the flyers were to warn Afghan residents in Ghazni province regular training missions would begin the next two to three weeks.
Once again, news is sparse and conflicting.

Human Rights Watch has called for the release of the South Koreans.

According to Human Rights Watch’s Afghanistan Casualty Database, at least 374 Afghan civilians have been killed during Taliban attacks in 2007, and at least 631 civilians have been injured, resulting in more than 1,000 civilian casualties in a six-month period. Since the beginning of the year, the Taliban have also carried out least 100 attacks targeting civilians or executing civilians in their custody, including at least 28 beheadings. These attacks have resulted in at least 221 civilian deaths, and injuries to 173 more.  

The South Korean Stockholm Syndrome - Scribblings of the Metropolitican
Afghan civilian deaths 2007
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