The first two Korean hostages freed by Taliban militants gave a brief statement of apology and thanks to the public on Friday following their return to South Korea.
After nearly a month of captivity by the Taliban in Afghanistan - Kim Ji-na, 32, and Kim Kyun-ja, 37 - landed at Incheon International Airport at 12:19pm Friday, according to Yonhap news agency in Seoul.The two females appeared visibly tired as they each gave a brief statement at the entrance gate of the airport.
"We are very sorry that we caused you to worry so much," said Kim Kyun-ja, according to Yonhap. "Because of your help, we were able to be released, and we would like to heartily thank you.
"For now, we can do nothing but hope that the other people, who are still held by the Taliban in Afghanistan, get released soon," she added.
Kim Ji-na said: "We are so obliged to you all for your concerns. We are grateful that we were released."
The two did not answer any questions from the media after they spoke. They were soon reunited with their families at the airport and were then taken to a military hospital in Bundang, south of Seoul, for medical checkups.
Korean officials chose a military hospital because of fear that the hostages' exposure to the media could adversely affect negotiations for the remaining 19 hostages.
The women's release was the result of four days of intense face-to-face talks between Taliban militants and a Korean delegation at the local headquarters of the Afghan Red Crescent Society that began last week. Taliban captors said the two females were released as a "gesture of goodwill" because talks were going well.
A government official who accompanied the two from New Delhi to Seoul said the hostages did not know they were being released until the handover, according to Yonhap.
