The South Korean Foreign Ministry confirmed that 33-year-old hostage Kim Sun-il had been found dead, executed by his captors.
The Arabic news channel Al-Jazeera earlier reported that Kim had been beheaded by his captors, who were demanding South Korea cancel plans to deploy more troops in Iraq and withdraw those already there in exchange for Kim's life.
Hope was briefly kindled last evening, the original deadline for a decision from South Korea, when there were no reports Kim had been killed as his captors had threatened.
South Korea's security council held an emergency meeting to discuss the execution and situation in Iraq.
(dpa/AFP/AP/Reuters)
The Arabic news channel Al-Jazeera earlier reported that Kim had been beheaded by his captors, who were demanding South Korea cancel plans to deploy more troops in Iraq and withdraw those already there in exchange for Kim's life.
Hope was briefly kindled last evening, the original deadline for a decision from South Korea, when there were no reports Kim had been killed as his captors had threatened.
South Korea's security council held an emergency meeting to discuss the execution and situation in Iraq.
(dpa/AFP/AP/Reuters)
