SEOUL, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- The South Korean Foreign Ministry confirmed on Monday that two South Korean female hostages were released in Afghanistan.

    The two hostages are now under protect of South Korean troops and are receiving medical check in Afghanistan, said Cho Hee-yong, spokesman for the ministry.

    South Korea urges early release of all the hostages in Afghanistan, the spokesman said.

    The released hostages are Kim Gina, 32, and Kim Kyung-ja, 37, said Cho.

    "We feel fortunate that at least some of the hostages have been released, but we again urge the kidnappers to immediately release all our citizens they hold hostage," Cho said.

    Following the release of the hostages, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun issued a statement to hail the release.

    "The South Korean government is pleased, along with the entire Korean people, at the release of two of the Korean captives held in Afghanistan. But the government still regrets the protracted captivity of the remaining 19 hostages," said the statement.

    "President Roh was briefed on the hostage release and instructed his government to do its utmost to secure the release of all the other hostages as soon as possible," the statement said.

    The South Korean government would maintain close cooperation with the Afghan government and international society to gain the release of the remaining hostages, the statement said.

    A total of 23 South Koreans were kidnapped by Taliban militants in Afghanistan on July 19. The militants have killed two male hostages so far. There are 19 South Koreans currently held as hostages by the militants.     

Two S Korean hostages arrive in Ghazni city

    KABUL, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Ghazni provincial government spokesman said the two South Korean hostages, who were just released by the Taliban, had met South Korean officials in Ghazni city, the capital of Ghazni province.

ICRC receives 2 S Korean hostages in Afghanistan

    KABUL, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Johnpast Merot, an official at the International Committee of Red Cross in Afghanistan, told Xinhua on Monday that the Taliban has handed over two South Korean hostages to the organization.

Taliban releases two female S Korean hostages

    KABUL, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Taliban has freed two female South Korean hostages on Monday afternoon, Pajhwok Afghan News (PAN) quoted a Taliban member Masoom as saying.

    The two hostages were freed in Andar district of Ghanzi province of Afghanistan, said Masoom, spokesman for a Taliban commander Abdullah Jan, who is believed to be holding the South Koreans, according to PAN.