Foreign Minister Cho Hyun reviews documents at a meeting of ministers on external economic affairs held at Government Complex Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Thursday. [Yonhap]
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun reviews documents at a meeting of ministers on external economic affairs held at Government Complex Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Thursday. [Yonhap]

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held an emergency phone call Thursday with his Nepali counterpart to urge the swift search and rescue of South Korean nationals after floods in Nepal left nine missing and 10 others stranded and awaiting rescue. The South Korean government said it would provide $1 million in humanitarian aid and is actively considering dispatching the Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT).

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cho spoke Thursday afternoon with Nepali Foreign Minister Sishir Khanal, focusing their talks on managing the damage from the floods that struck Nepal on Wednesday and on securing the rescue of South Korean nationals.

Khanal briefed Cho on the scale of the flooding in the Rasuwa region and the authorities' response efforts. Cho expressed deep condolences to the Nepali people affected and their bereaved families, and said South Korea would provide $1 million in humanitarian assistance through international organizations operating on the ground to support Nepal's recovery.

Cho told Khanal that "our government is deeply concerned, as nine of our nationals have lost contact and 10 others have evacuated and are waiting to be rescued," and called on the Nepali government to give special attention and full support to ensure a swift and safe search-and-rescue operation.

Cho also conveyed that President Lee Jae-myung, who chaired an emergency meeting Thursday afternoon, had directed that all available means be mobilized for the search and rescue of the missing. Cho added that South Korea would review and pursue the rapid dispatch of the KDRT.

Cho further asked for Nepal's active cooperation to ensure that a joint rapid-response team dispatched to the site that day could work closely with local authorities and carry out smooth search-and-rescue support operations.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the two ministers agreed to maintain close communication and cooperation between the two governments to manage the flood damage and secure the search and rescue of South Korean nationals.


sunpine@heraldcorp.com