South Korea ? Looking wan and exhausted, and apologizing for the trouble they have caused their nation, South Korean missionaries held hostage for six weeks in Afghanistan arrived home early this morning.

The 19 young Christians released last week by Taliban captors returned to a country thankful for their safe return but angered by what has been widely portrayed as the recklessness of the missionaries and the church that sent them into a war zone.

Moments after landing at Incheon International Airport, one of the released hostages apologized.

“Unexpectedly, we were kidnapped and we are very apologetic and sorry for the trouble we caused our government and our people,” said Yoo Kyung Sik. “We thank everyone for thinking about us and allowing us to come back home.”

The missionaries were immediately taken to a hospital for checkups and a reunion with their families.