The Board of Audit and Inspection says only one Foreign Ministry employee received a phone call from the Seoul branch of Associated Press regarding the abduction of South Korean hostage Kim Sun-il.

State auditors said they had reached the tentative conclusion after questioning three AP reporters at the BAI office and checking their cellular phone records.

In addition, the BAI dismissed the veracity of a written statement by the Associated Press that three of its reporters had contacted the Foreign Ministry on three occasions.

The BAI also said questions surrounding the AP's release of an edited videotape showing the captive Kim would be answered after the news agency submits its written testimony on the matter.