All South Korean aid organizations were ordered to pull out of Afghanistan within one month, local media quoted a diplomatic envoy as saying on Thursday.

South Korean Ambassador to Afghanistan Kang Sung-zu told some Afghan tribal elders on Wednesday that his government would forbid its citizens and aid organizations from traveling to Afghanistan, and that all South Korean aid groups have to withdraw from Afghanistan within one month, TOLO TV reported.

A total of 23 South Koreans were kidnapped by Taliban militants in Ghazni province of central Afghanistan on July 19.

Two male hostages were killed by militants, and the Afghan government refused to release Taliban prisoners in exchange for hostages as the militants demanded, while the other hostages are still being held by the Taliban.

(Xinhua News Agency August 10, 2007)