By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
South Korea said Wednesday it is working to secure the release of a South Korean journalist kidnapped by a the PFLP, and has asked for help from both Israeli and Palestinian authorities.
"We are making utmost efforts to win an early release and return of the correspondent by mobilizing all resources available," said Lee Joon-gyu, director general of Foreign Ministry's Overseas Koreans and Consulate Affairs department.
The journalist, identified as Yong Tae-young of KBS, the leading South Korean state TV broadcaster, was abducted from his hotel in Gaza by the PFLP on Tuesday. He is being held along with two French citizens.
Lee said Yong called the South Korean Embassy in Israel and told them he was safe, but didn't elaborate on the demands of the terrorists. The ministry said it will send a team of officials to the area to help win Yong's release.
South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon, who is traveling in Argentina, spoke by telephone early Wednesday with his Palestinian counterpart and received promises authorities would press for the journalist's release, the ministry said.
Palestinian authorities are negotiating with the militant group, said Ma Young-sam, an official at the embassy, according to Yonhap news agency.
State broadcaster KBS said it has set up an emergency task force and dispatched seven reporters to the area to cover the story.
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