United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has joined in condemnation of the brutal killing of a Korean hostage in Iraq.

Annan said Wednesday that he was appalled by the beheading of the hostage Kim Sun-il in Iraq and called for the release of all others being held hostage in the country.

In a statement, Annan's spokesman quoted the U.N. chief as saying that he condemns in the strongest terms the heartless crime, which no political or other cause can justify.

The statement also expressed the secretary general's sincere condolences to Kim's family and the government of South Korea.