An Iraqi insurgent group that killed a South Korean hostage last month on Thursday posted a message on its Web site, indicating the killing was linked to his religion.
The Tawhid wa al-Jihad (Unification and Holy War), which is allegedly linked to al-Qaida, also posted pictures of Kim Sun-il before and after being killed.
"We have killed an infidel who tried to propagate Christianity in Iraq," the message read. "This infidel studied theology and was preparing to become a missionary in the Islamic world."
Kim, a 33-year-old translator for a South Korean supplier to the U.S. military in Iraq, was found dead outside Baghdad on June 22 (Baghdad time) after the South Korean government refused to accept the kidnappers' demand to pull its troops out of the Middle Eastern country within 24 hours.
The group also accused Cana General Trading Co., where Kim worked, of being affiliated Christianity, condemning the company's contribution of 10 percent of its profits for missionary work.
The site also carried two pictures of Kim before he was beheaded and two pictures after. One of the pictures showed Kim's head lying on the floor.
The Web site is blocked in South Korea.