South Korea

During the recent round of six party talks between nK, China, Russia, ROK, Japan and the U.S., Pyongyang agreed to quickly dismantle key portions of its nuclear program and publicly account for all past nuclear activities, including bombs like the one it tested underground a year ago.

Personally, this sounds like the same old song-and-dance we’ve listened to for years. I understand the pressure to secure a deal with Pyongyang. After all, the possibility that Kim Jong Il will sell nuclear know-how to countries like Iran and Syria is a legitimate concern, and the sooner he’s out of the nuclear power business the better. And of course, the Bush administration desperately needs a diplomatic victory in nK to save face. But in our desperation, we’re dropping our guard.

This agreement sets a timetable for Pyongyang to come clean on all its nuclear programs and disable all nuclear facilities in exchange for 950,000 metric tons of fuel oil or its equivalent in economic aid. Sound familiar?

Oh, by the way, the agreement also requires the U.S. to “begin the process of removing” nK from the terrorism-sponsor list “in parallel” with the actions taken by Pyongyang. In July, Assistant Secretary of State, Christopher Hill, set the stage for this when he said the U.S. was willing to start the process after we “see how far the North Koreans are prepared to move on denuclearization.”

Evidently, no movement at all was sufficient.

Today marked the release of all the South Korean missionaries held hostage by the Taliban terrorists (h/t: Michelle Malkin). Why did the terrorists hold the seven remaining hostages for an additional day? I believe they wanted to see what kind of response the hostage release received from the media. If it didn’t go their way or if thought they could gain some new advantage, they’d still have some leverage. Just more game-playing.

Now it appears the Church that sent the missionaries to Afghanistan will be charged by the South Korean government for the expense of transporting them home.

According to the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade,

The government will first request compensation for the cost of airfare, the transfer of dead bodies, and expenses for the transportation and medical treatment of the captives.”

The chief pastor of the Bundang-based church said the church will reimburse the government for all costs associated with transporting the dead bodies and freed hostages home. The pastor made the commitment after the government said it would seek compensation from the church since all expenses were paid by taxpayer money.

First taken hostage by Taliban, then robbed by their own government. South Korea has the twelfth largest economy in the world! How cheap can you be?!?

MORE: Tel-Chai Nation

UPDATE: South Korean officials hint at recouping expenses from the hostages themselves (h/t: Hot Air).

Twelve of the nineteen South Korean hostages held by the Taliban have been released. The hostages were released into the care of the International Committee of the Red Cross in small groups at three different locations in central Afghanistan. The Taliban said they would release the seven remaining hostages within the next few days.

At first, South Korea had vowed not to engage in direct talks with Taliban terrorists who had threatened to kill the missionary hostages. However, following the murder of two of the hostages as a result of failed negotiations between the terrorists and the Afghan government late last month, the South Korean government began direct negotiations with the kidnappers.

Of course, this is good news for the missionaries and their families and I’m happy they’re safe. Still, although the hostages-for-prisoners deal fell through, the Taliban can still claim victory.

They certainly didn’t lose, did they?

The South Koreans have reached an agreement with the Taliban kidnappers to free the 19 remaining Christian missionary hostages (h/t: Michelle Malkin).

The deal: In exchange for the hostages, South Korea will withdraw its troops stationed in Afghanistan by year’s end and impose a ban on its Christian nationals’ missionary activities in Afghanistan.

The message: Kidnapping and murdering foreigners works!

MORE: Hot Air; The Jawa Report; Little Green Footballs

The Taliban has freed two South Korean women it previously held hostage. Taliban spokesman, Qari Mohammad Yousuf, described the release as “a gesture of good faith to the Korean government and United Nations…” now they “want the U.N. and Korean authorities to consider Taliban prisoners, and [they] want to hear a good decision from them.”

(What?!?)

By releasing 2 of the remaining 21 hostages, the Taliban is acting in good faith? And their generosity ought to be reciprocated by the release of criminals?

(Maybe in the bizarro Taliban land!)

I hope that this veil of good will is interpreted for what it is — a desperate attempt by the Taliban to garner sympathy for their cause and attain victory by their despicable act.

Don’t give in! The price is too high!

More: Michelle Malkin; Tel-Chai Nation