<Anchor>

In Africa, a French army attacked a militant group to save two people who were kidnapped, but rescued two more Koreans and two US hostages. A Korean woman appears to have been kidnapped about four weeks ago and is scheduled to arrive in Paris around midnight (11th).

Today's first news, Cairo, has been delivered by correspondent Lee Dae-wook.

<Reporter>

French special forces rescued four hostages held in armed groups in Burkina Faso, West Africa.

The rescued hostage was a Korean woman in her 40s, two Frenchmen, and one American.

The French government said it was unaware of the existence of Korean and American hostages until the rescue.

[FLORENCE PALERI / French Defense Secretary: We had no idea in advance about the existence of American and Korean hostages.]

The kidnappers were on standby in neighboring Burkina Faso to move the kidnapped hostage from Mali to a national park in northern Benin and border to Burkina Faso in Africa.

The French troops, who determined to be the last rescue shortly before they joined Mali's armed group, were on a surprise attack at night.

Two French soldiers were sacrificed during an impending rescue operation.

Four out of six hostages were killed and two escaped.

They are said to be part of the "Katiba Marshina", a militant Islamic extremist group in Mali.

[Francesco Lecco Entre / Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of France: Two French soldiers and siblings died. It is so heartbreaking.]

France says the hostages were held for 28 days.

They will check their health condition at the military hospital as soon as we arrive in Paris at midnight in our time today.

(Image coverage: Kim, Bu-Young, Image editing: Jeon, Min-gyu)

▶ I have not been contacted before 'Detained in Africa' ... "Hold limit without declaration"