By DPA
Seoul : Two South Korean women returned home Friday after being kidnapped for more than three weeks by the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Kim Ji Na, 32, and Kim Kyung Ja, 37, landed at Incheon International Airport outside Seoul, South Korean television reported.
The women were released Monday after negotiations mediated by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
A remaining 19 Christian health workers were still being held, and South Korean diplomats were holding talks with the Taliban to try to negotiate their release.
The fundamentalist Islamic militia that once ruled Afghanistan is demanding the release of Taliban fighters being held in Afghan government jails. It said no more hostages would be released until their own comrades are freed.
Twenty-three South Korean health workers were kidnapped last month while travelling in Ghazni province on the main road from Kabul to Kandahar. Two of the five male hostages were executed when deadlines elapsed for the release of the Taliban prisoners.