An official from the district where the Taliban kidnapped 23 Korean Christian volunteers nearly two weeks ago was initially quoted by Reuters news service as saying that the operation had started.But Reuters later withdrew the story, saying "the Kabul datelined story .... is wrong. The official cited in the story did not make the comment reported." Officials here also refuted the report, saying the Afghan government would not take any military action without Seoul's consent.
"We have not sanctioned such a rescue operation. We have not been informed of such an action either," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lee Youn-soo said.
So it appears that Reuters was responsible for the false report.
I forgot to include the link to Yonhap -
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2007/08/01/70/0301000000AEN20070801009000320F.HTML