Body of S. Korean woman killed in Yemen to be flown to S. Korea

By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- The body of a South Korean woman apparently killed by
insurgents in Yemen was due to be flown to Seoul later this week, officials here
said Thursday.
Eom Young-sun, 34, was among nine foreigners believed to have been kidnapped in
Yemen. The bodies of three have been found and were reportedly severely
mutilated. The fate of the others has yet to be confirmed.
Eom's body is currently being kept in a Sanna military hospital after being
transferred from Saada on Tuesday, according to South Korean foreign ministry
spokesman Moon Tae-young.
Eom's father and sister, on a visit to Yemen, confirmed the identity of the
victim, he added.
"The government is taking measures in cooperation with the Yemeni authorities to
swiftly bring the body to South Korea at the request of the bereaved family,"
Moon said.
Another ministry official said later that Eom's body is expected to arrive here
on Friday afternoon.
The government, meanwhile, reiterated its call for South Koreans in Yemen to
leave the country if they are not involved in urgent businesses or other
activities. Around 170 South Koreans reside in Yemen, one of the Arab world's
poorest countries.
Yemen's security conditions have deteriorated due to a rebellion against the
Sanna government and al-Qaida terrorist networks' increasing activity.
In March, four South Korean tourists were killed and three others were wounded in
Yemen after a bomb exploded in the historic city of Shibam, some 90 kilometers
east of Sanna. Seoul promptly issued a non-binding travel warning on Yemen.
Saada Province in particular is known as a heartland of rebel activity.
Seven South Koreans working at an international medical organization in Saada
said they will return to South Korea within two or three weeks, the ministry
spokesman said.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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