Seoul: The husband of one of the 21 South Korean hostages kidnapped by the Taliban in Afghanistan posted a video message on YouTube today, telling his wife not to give up hope because they will see each other soon.

Ryu Hang-sik's wife, Kim Yun-yeong, was kidnapped along with 22 other church volunteers in southern Afghanistan on July 19. The Taliban have executed two men and threatened to kill others, including 16 women, if the Afghan government doesn't release its fighters in custody.

"We must be patient for a bit longer. For the sake of our children, stay strong and health. Please hold on to positive thoughts," Ryu told his wife in the message. "We will see each other soon." In his letter, read in Korean but with English subtitle, Ryu expressed guilt about carrying on a normal life while he was suffering. "I can't be more hateful of myself for eating and drinking a a time when you must be really sick and going through so much hardship," he said adding, "The children are really proud of you for helping people living in poverty and distress."

A family spokesman, meanwhile, said the families of the captives had little faith that talks between US President George W Bush and Afghan President Hamid Karzai this week will end the nearly three-week hostage crisis.

"The families of the hostages don't seem to expect much from the summit meeting between Afghanistan and the United States," Lee Jeong-hoon, the Father of one of the captives, told reporters. "They don't think that the meeting will secure the hostages release."