National News

South Korean hostage killed by Islamic militants in Iraq

BAGHDAD (AP) - Islamic militants June 22 beheaded a South Korean who pleaded in a heart-wrenching videotape that "I don't want to die" after his government refused to pull its troops from Iraq. Kim Sun Il was the third foreign hostage decapitated in the Middle East in little over a month.

Arabic satellite television channel Al-Jazeera broadcast a videotape of a terrified Kim kneeling, blindfolded and wearing an orange jumpsuit.

Kim's shoulders were heaving, his mouth open and moving as if he were sobbing. Five hooded and armed men stood behind him, one with a big knife in his belt.

One of the masked men read a statement addressed to the Korean people: "This is what your hands have committed. Your army has not come here for the sake of Iraqis, but for cursed America."

Al-Jazeera did not show Kim being executed, but said the tape contained pictures of Kim, 33, being slaughtered. The channel decided not to air it because it could be "highly distressing to our audience," it said.

Kim, who spoke Arabic, worked for Gana General Trading Co., a South Korean company supplying the U.S. military in Iraq. He was believed kidnapped several weeks before.

In a video released by his captors June 20, Kim begged his government to end its involvement in Iraq. "Korean soldiers, please get out of here," he screamed in English. "I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I know that your life is important, but my life is important."

The kidnappers gave South Korea 24 hours to meet their demand that Korean forces get out of Iraq or "we will send you the head of this Korean."

South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun strongly condemned the terrorist act and vowed to go ahead with plans to deploy 3,000 more troops to the country "to help in the reconstruction and restoration of Iraq."

Shukan ST: July 2, 2004

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