Kidnappers of a South Korean civilian in Iraq have extended their deadline for his planned execution, an Arabic television network reported Tuesday.

The Dubai-based Al-Arabiya, in a news scroll across its broadcast TV screen, quoted an unidentified mediator as saying Kim's captors agreed to provide more time for talks but did not elaborate.

The Iraqi insurgents, who kidnapped Kim Sun-il on Thursday, had threatened to behead their hostage by dawn Tuesday unless South Korea withdrew its plan to send additional troops to Iraq.

South Korea has rejected the kidnappers' demand and said it would go ahead with plans to send some 3,000 troops to Iraq in August to join some 600 already there.

A South Korean delegation is in Jordan to coordinate diplomatic efforts to secure Kim's release.

Earlier in the day, the head of a South Korean security firm in Iraq corroborated statements on Kim's safety as negotiations continue for his release.

Choi Seung-kap, president of NKTS, said in a telephone interview seen on South Korea's YTN television a local partner of his company had succeeded in contacting the armed insurgents believed to be the abductors of Kim Sun-il, who was reported captured along with several other foreigners.

Choi added that negotiations for Kim's release were ongoing but added he could not reveal details of the discussions for the sake of the hostages' safety.

Asked on whether his efforts were in conjunction with that of the South Korean delegation dispatched to Jordan, Choi said there were no contacts with the team so far.