Moon orders gov't to do its utmost for rescue of Korean kidnapped in Libya

President Moon Jae-in instructed his administration to "do its utmost with all resources the country has" to win the safe release of a South Korean kidnapped by an armed group in Libya.

In a statement released on Thursday, Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom disclosed the president's order, adding, "The government has been maintaining a close cooperation system with the government of Libya and other allies, such as the Philippines and the United States, since the day of the incident for his safety and release."

President Moon gave the order immediately after the Korean citizen was kidnapped on July 6, but the government had put an embargo on the abduction. The South Korean Navy's Cheonghae Unit and its 4,000-ton destroyer have moved to Libyan waters through the Suez Canal to respond to the situation, according to Kim.

Kim used many literary expressions in the commentary, inviting criticism from opposition parties for "caring more about using flowery words than giving information on a matter of life and death for the kidnapped Korean citizen.


Sang-Jun Han alwaysj@donga.com