Well aware of how but not why

In an article from Korea's Yonhap news agency about the steps being taken by the Korean government in response to the Taliban taking 23 Korean hostages and killing two of them, Presidential spokesman Cheon Ho-seon says

The government is well aware of how the international community deals with these kinds of abduction cases. But it also believes that it would be worthwhile to use flexibility in the cause of saving the precious lives of those still in captivity and is appealing the international community to do so.

He then goes on to state that the kidnappers' demands are well outside of Korea's abilities and that the government opposes any military actions until the last minute.
I realize Korea is not the world's strongest nation, but I have to question whether this insistence on rescuing the hostages has anything to do with the fact that the President, Roh Mu-hyun, is a Christian, just like the missionary aid workers currently being held in Afghanistan.
It seems to me that the only people here legitimately behind the hostages are other Christians. While I am most certainly oversimplifying this issue, I prefer to think that I am speeding up the process of rounding all the edges off history.
But seriously, military intervention completely ruled out? Using flexibility, that's just another way to say appeasement, right?