Taliban militants released four more South Korean hostages today, an Associated Press reporter witnessed.

Taliban militants were expected to release seven remaining South Korean hostages today, bringing to an end a six-week drama that saw two captives executed by the kidnappers in Afghanistan, a South Korean official said.

Taliban militants in Afghanistan have agreed to release 19 South Korean church volunteers held captive since July 19, a spokesman for the insurgents and the South Korean government said today.

North Korea demanded that the US military call off war manoeuvres with South Korea planned at the same time as the second-ever summit between the rival Koreas later this month.

The Taliban today offered to hold talks with South Korean officials in Afghan government-controlled territory over the fate of 21 hostages if the UN guaranteed the safety of the militant delegation.