Hospital workers carry a coffin containing the body of South Korean Christian pastor Bae Hyung-kyu, 42, shot dead by Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan, at a hospital in Anyang, south of Seoul, July 30, 2007. The Taliban extended its deadline to 1130 GMT for 22 South Korean hostages they are threatening to kill after an appeal by Afghan negotiators, a Taliban spokesman said, adding all of the remaining captives were alive.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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Family members of the 22 kidnapped South Koreans in Afghanistan react as they wait for television news about them in Seongnam, south of Seoul, July 30, 2007. The Taliban extended its deadline to 1130 GMT for 22 South Korean hostages they are threatening to kill after an appeal by Afghan negotiators, a Taliban spokesman said, adding all of the remaining captives were alive.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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    KABUL, July 30 (Xinhua) -- The Taliban has killed one more South Korean hostage held in Afghanistan on Monday night, a purported Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi told Xinhua from an undisclosed place.

    Ahmadi said the male hostage named Song Kin-Shi was shot dead at around 8:30 p.m. (1600 GMT) as the Afghan government was not serious in the talks.

    He said the dead body was dumped near Ghazni-Kandahar highway.

    Taliban has insisted on the exchange of Taliban prisoners for the hostages.

    A total of 23 South Koreans were kidnapped by Taliban militants on a road in the central Ghazni province on July 19. One male hostage was executed by Taliban on July 25.

Family members of the 22 kidnapped South Koreans in Afghanistan react as they wait for television news about them in Seongnam, south of Seoul, July 30, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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People carry a coffin containing the body of Bae Hyung-Kyu, a South Korean hostage who was killed by Afghan kidnappers on July 25, at Anyang hospital near Seoul July 30, 2007. The body of Bae Hyung-Kyu was transported to Incheon International Airport on Monday.(Xinhua Photo)
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    Backgrounder: Kidnappings in Afghanistan this year

    KABUL, July 30 (Xinhua) -- The Taliban has killed a second South Korean hostage held in Afghanistan on Monday night, a purported Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi said.

    Due to worsening security, Afghanistan has witnessed a series of kidnappings so far this year.

    One British journalist and his three Afghan colleagues were abducted by Taliban militants in the southern Helmand province on February 20, but were released one day later.

    Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo was captured by Taliban fighters in the southern Helmand province together with his interpreter and his driver on March 5. Mastrogiacomo was released after Afghan authorities freed five Taliban senior members, but the interpreter and the driver were beheaded.

    Taliban militants abducted five Afghan medical workers in the southern Kandahar province. One of them was executed, but the other four were released after Afghan authorities transferred the body of top Taliban commander Mullah Dadullah to his family.

    Two French and three Afghan aid workers were kidnapped by the Taliban in the southwestern province on April 3 and the five were all freed weeks later.

    Taliban militants captured a soldier of the U.S.-led coalition forces on June 12 in the southern Helmand province.

    Five Afghan medical workers and their driver were abducted by unknown militants in the eastern Nuristan province on June 20.

    Taliban fighters abducted 16 Afghan deminers in the central Ghazni province, but released them days later.

    One German national was abducted by unknown militants in Afghanistan on June 28, but was freed days later.

    Taliban militants captured two Germans and five Afghans on July18 in the central Wardak province.

    Taliban fighters kidnapped 23 South Korean hostages on July 19 in the central Ghazni province. One male hostage was executed on July 25, and a second was killed on July 30. The others are still being held by the Taliban.

    One German journalist and his interpreter were kidnapped by militants in the eastern Kunar province on July 24, but were released soon.