The South Korean Presidential Office said Monday that no military operation to rescue 23 South Korean hostages in Afghanistan would be conducted without Seoul's consent, stressing the hostages' safety is the highest priority.

"The rescue operation will not be conducted without our government's consent," said Cheon Ho-seon, spokesman for the office.

"We're analyzing what substantial and final demands the kidnappers have and what is the most important thing for them," Cheon said, adding South Korea will take all available measures to free the hostages.

Cheon's remarks came after a statement by the Afghan Defense Ministry that Afghani and international forces are conducting a joint operation to rescue the South Korean hostages.

A total of 23 South Koreans were captured by armed Taliban fighters last Thursday when they were traveling in a bus from the Afghan capital of Kabul to the southern city of Kandahar. The Taliban said they would start to kill the hostages by 1430 GMT Monday unless 23 Taliban prisoners are released and South Korea withdraws its 210 troops from Afghanistan.

A South Korean delegation is now in Afghanistan to seek safe release of the hostages.

Source: Xinhua