Originally published on January 20, 2014

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A South Korean trade official was kidnapped in Libyan capital Tripoli on Sunday (January 19).

The official was identified by Reuters as Han Seok-woo, head of trade relations at the Korea Trade Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) in Libya. Han was being driven home after work by his Iraqi driver when four gunmen stopped the car at about 5:30 pm. The kidnappers forced Han into another vehicle and headed west of Tripoli, according to a report by Korea's Arirang News.

The identities of the kidnappers and the motive behind the abduction remain unknown. Arirang cited information from Al-Jazeera which suggested that al-Qaeda may be behind the abduction.

Reuters reported that Han's office on the 18th floor of the Tripoli Tower complex had been subject to a lockdown last month due to a security dispute. The Korean foreign ministry issued a travel warning to Libya after the abduction.

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