Koreans seek U.S. help for 21 held by Taliban

South Korea and relatives of kidnapped Christian aid workers appealed to the United States for help, and Afghanistan said for the first time that it would not release prisoners to save the hostages.

The bodies of two of the South Koreans have been found. The Taliban has said more Koreans will be killed if its demands are not met.

The 23 South Koreans were kidnapped July 19 along the road from Kabul to Kandahar.

In South Korea, relatives and a civic group pleaded for American involvement.

The South Korean president’s office said it was “aware of how the international community deals with these kinds of abduction cases,” an apparent reference to not negotiating with terrorists. “But it also believes that it would be worthwhile to use flexibility in the cause of saving the precious lives of those still in captivity.”

Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s spokesman said that officials were doing everything they could, but that freeing militant prisoners was not an option.

“As a principle, we shouldn’t encourage kidnapping by accepting their demands,” he said.