SEOUL, July 20 (Yonhap) — Some 20 South Koreans were kidnapped by Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan, days after they entered the country for Christian volunteer work, the Foreign Ministry in Seoul said Friday.

The Taliban, meanwhile, said they had seized 18 South Koreans, including 15 women, and will announce what demands they will make for their release, according to news reports from Kabul.

“They are safe with us. We are investigating them and our demands and reaction will be announced later,” said Taliban spokesman Said Yousuf Ahmadi via a satellite phone from an undisclosed location, according to the Reuters.

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