The body was dropped off in Chardiwal in the province of Ghazni in central Afghanistan, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in a telephone interview. He identified the victim as Soon Shineen.

But the district governor of Qara Bagh, Khawaja Mohammad Siddiqi, said no body had been discovered at the location given by the Taliban.

The announcement came hours after Taliban leaders had threatened to kill more of the 22 Korean hostages they have been holding if Afghan leaders did not give in to their demands to release rebel prisoners.

Taliban spokesman Qari Mohammad Yousuf said the Taliban, who had already killed one hostage, would begin killing the others if the Afghan government did not act.

The Afghan government has ruled out a prisoner swap and has urged the Taliban to release the women being held.

The 23 RoK people - members of a church group in Afghanistan to perform volunteer medical aid - were kidnapped 11 days ago from their bus in Ghazni province.