[08/04]Negotiations Deadlocked Over Taliban Demands (from Bloody)

[Vincent(카페지기)]

Topic1

Negotiations Deadlocked Over Taliban Demands

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2007/07/116_7430.html

Negotiations over the 22 Koreans held hostage by the Taliban in Afghanistan passed their seventh deadline on Monday without any breakthrough.

In the meantime, Seoul is reportedly in close contact with Washington to secure the release of the hostages, the presidential office said.

Presidential spokesman Cheon Ho-seon told reporters, ``We are looking toward the necessary collaboration with the United States.''

Asked if the scheduled summit between Afghan President Hamid Karzai and U.S. President George W. Bush in the U.S. on Aug. 5 could determine the issue of the prisoner release, he said it is inappropriate for the Korean government to comment on the meeting.

The Taliban militants had threatened to kill the hostages if their demand for a swap with prisoners held by Afghanistan was not met by 4:30 p.m. Monday (KST), which Qari Yousaf Ahmadi, the purported Taliban spokesman, had claimed was the final deadline.

But the deadline was extended again after the Taliban accused Afghan government officials of being insincere in the negotiations.

Marajudin Pathan, the governor of Ghazni Province where the Koreans were kidnapped, also pleaded with the Taliban to extend their deadline for two more days of talks.

The extension came after the insurgents delivered a revised list of their comrades to be freed from prison to the Afghan government in return for the release of the Korean hostages, according to a source in Kabul.

The new list excluded prisoners in the custody of the U.S. military in Afghanistan at the request of the Afghan government, the source said. But officials in Kabul declined to confirm‎ if they have received an amended list.

The Afghan government had rejected an initial list of eight prisoners including high-profile Taliban commanders late last week because some members on the list were in the custody of the U.S. Though the United States expressed its full support for the hostage problem, it repeatedly made clear that there would be no deal with the terrorists.

^Baek Jong-chun, a special presidential envoy from South Korea, asked for a flexible approach to the deal during a meeting with Afghan President Karzai. But the President said his country will exert its utmost efforts to free the hostages, without mentioning the release of Taliban prisoners.

Afghanistan's Deputy Interior Minister Munir Mangal, who is leading the negotiations, also said that the release of Taliban prisoners would not be realized, the Washington Times reported. Rather, he indicated that the Afghan government would use force if the negotiations failed.

Seoul has opposed any military measures to free the hostages because it could put the hostages in harm's way. The Taliban have said they will kill the hostages if the Afghan government or international military forces conduct any military operation to rescue them.

Questions

1. what do you think about this? tell us your thinking about this.

2. they knew about Afghanistan's situation but ignored it. just thought many nation of Afghanistan are in strong pain by the war. what was wrong? why did the insurgents take korean away forcibly? because of just ransom or comrades' release?

3. if you are there, how will you overcome? do you have special method to escape from there?

4. foolish question!!!

if they are released from the insurgent by paying for ransom from our government, and then do they have to pay back?

Topic2

Actress Kim Hee-sun’s Fiance Is Businessman

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2007/07/139_7400.html

Pictures of actress Kim Hee-Sun's fiance have surfaced over the Internet despite the actress' efforts to keep things low-key. Interest has been high in the young businessman, Park Ju-yeong, 33, and netizens have scoured the web for more information using clues from articles about the couple's upcoming wedding. They succeeded in finding a 2006 interview that the magazine, "Men's Health," did with Park. An accomplished sportsman, he is adept at boxing, fencing and martial arts. The second son of the president of Larksan Group, a local construction company, the bridegroom-to-be runs a spa in Apgujeong-dong, southern Seoul.

Known for her roles in the martial arts movie "Bichunmoo," as a Korean Princess in "The Myth," "A Man Who Went to Mars" etc, Kim has a reputation as a leading actress in not only Korea but China, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. After starring in "The Myth" in 2005, the actress was going to start filming for a TV drama but is postponing her acting activities to concentrate on plans for the wedding.

The couple is to wed Oct. 19 at the Seoul Sheraton Grande Walkerhill Hotel. They plan on having an intimate wedding inviting only close friends and family.

Questions

1. What is your ideal person's appearance and personality?

2. Have you ever met him or her such as that person? tell us your experience.

3. Do you think you can meet your ideal person? if not, why did you think so?

4. if you live with your fiance, can you live without money? and if you are opposite circumstance, how will you?

[Teddy~*]

1월 첫주의 마음가짐을 가지고 토요일날 뵙겠습니다 ~^-^

[Todd]

나두 1월 첫주의 마음가짐으로.... ^^;;;

[Teddy~*]

토드 따라쟁이~ 큭큭큭 ^^

[bloody]

당직이네요~ 기껏 타픽 준비 했더니만... ㅡㅡ;; 할말 많은데... 간식 사다주~~

[bloody]

당직이 변경 되었음~ 일요일로~~ 이건 좋아해야 하는 건가 말아야 하는건가?

[세실]

이변이 없는 한 참석합니다.^^

[JJun(Manager)]

이번주는 6시부터 예약된 방이 있으니, 더 공부하 하고 싶으신 분들은 6시까지 오세요~ 토요일날 뵙겠습니다.

[amy~]

토욜날봐용!!!

[steven]

참석합니다

[이기창]

영어가 많이 부족한지라 준비도 잘 안 되어있어서 이번주 정모는 그냥 참석할 예정입니다. 괜찮겠죠?^^이런 모임은 처음이라 회원님들이 하시는 것 보고 열심히 준비하고 공부할까 합니다. 그럼 낼 뵈요~^^

[문단]

Hi! everyone. My name is Kwon Hyeck-dong. English name is "Succeed". Call me Suceed, please. I have joined this club, just on-line, for about five months. I tried to attend this club several times. But every time I gave up because of my age, 43 years old. I have been studying English for about 7 years for my self. But still conversation is poor. Yet I study it every day for over 4 hours. This Saturday, I am trying this club, but not sure. Someone who read this text, encouraginf me to attend this eime, please. I work in my office now. Night duty. I live in Dyuru 3 dong, near Dyuru square.

[Todd]

정말 오랜만에 참석하려하는 제가 이렇게 답글 달기 좀 뭐하지만...^^;; 나이 상관없어요~ 하고 싶으시면 같이 공부해요~~

[Teddy~*]

나이많으신 분들도 계세요~ ^^ 배움의 열정에 남녀노소가 어디 있겠습니까~ ^^ 정모날 뵙겠습니다~ ^^/

[Todd]

정말 오랜만에 참석하겠습니다. ^^ 6시에도 방이 있군요...일찍 가볼까...ㅋ(오래동안 안갔더니 다른곳에는댓들도 못쓴다는....ㅜ.ㅜ)

[Teddy~*]

딴데 간줄알았다는~ ^^