Foreign Minister Cho urges Nepal to intensify search for 9 missing Koreans

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has asked his Nepali counterpart, Sishir Khanal, to intensify the search for nine South Koreans who went missing in the recent floods and to provide them assistance.

Cho met with Khanal for bilateral foreign ministerial talks Sunday, conveying deep condolences over the flood damage and expressing concern over the nine South Koreans whose whereabouts remain unconfirmed, according to South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Yonhap.

The two sides also discussed the current state of search-and-rescue operations for local victims, the Nepali government's recovery efforts, and ways South Korea could provide support.

Cho said South Korea had dispatched its Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT), equipped with search, rescue and forensic equipment, and that the team was conducting search-and-rescue operations in cooperation with Nepali authorities.

South Korea also plans to provide 130 million won ($95,600) in in-kind assistance and $1 million in humanitarian aid through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Cho said. Khanal expressed gratitude for South Korea's support.

Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation on climate change response in international forums and to maintain close communication to facilitate smooth search-and-rescue operations and help the Nepali people return to their daily lives as soon as possible, the ministry said.

Cho traveled to Nepal from Saturday through Monday to encourage search-and-rescue efforts for South Korean nationals and to boost the morale of KDRT personnel. The team continued Sunday to search tunnels and a powerhouse near Wier Dam, where the missing South Koreans are believed to be located.

The KDRT also visited a Nepali army unit in the Batar area Sunday and donated 262 body bags at the request of Nepali authorities.