It was confirmed today that the second government-joint rapid response team, newly dispatched to Nepal yesterday (August 29), has brought drones that can be utilized to search for missing South Korean nationals.

A Foreign Ministry official met with reporters at the ministry today, stating, "The rapid response team brought drones," and adding, "Moving forward, we are keeping in mind the possibility of utilizing drones in addition to searches via helicopters."

However, it was understood that it has not yet reached the stage of deciding to deploy drones for actual searches or requesting operational permission from the Nepalese government.

The official explained that the decision on whether and when to deploy drones, as well as the search areas, will be determined while monitoring the conditions on the ground.

First, the government is pushing to conduct additional searches using two helicopters today.

While operations are planned for a total of two helicopters—one leased by Doosan Enerbility and one leased by the government-joint rapid response team—they are currently on standby as operational permission from Nepalese authorities has not yet been granted as of 11:00 a.m. today.

A Foreign Ministry official explained that additional searches will be conducted based on yesterday's two helicopter search operations, stating, "We can definitely say that the search range will be broader."

Currently, the helicopters secured by the South Korean side total six, including three leased by the embassy, two by Doosan Enerbility, and one by Korea South-East Power Co.

Meanwhile, confusion arose regarding the number of deployed aircraft during the process of briefing the press on the helicopter search situation.

It was previously explained that two helicopters leased by the rapid response team departed for the accident site on August 29, but subsequent verification confirmed that it was actually a single helicopter that operated twice, at 11:45 a.m. and 12:38 p.m.

Meanwhile, the first flight of the helicopter carried four personnel from the National Fire Agency, while the second flight carried one from the National Fire Agency, two from the police, and one Foreign Ministry official.

At the accident site, the Nepalese military is also conducting searches with missing South Korean nationals in mind.

Regarding the sighting of a Nepalese military helicopter landed at the site while the South Korean rapid response team's helicopter was flying over the accident area yesterday, the Foreign Ministry stated that upon checking with the Nepalese side, "We received a response that the helicopter was launched with the missing South Korean nationals in mind."

In particular, the Nepalese military helicopter directly landed at the accident site and even carried out ground searches by deploying troops. A Foreign Ministry official explained in relation to this, "The Nepalese military landed at the site and actually carried out ground operations there," while adding, "We were told that no survivors were found."

Regarding specific details such as which areas the Nepalese military searched, to what extent, and the conditions during the actual ground search, the South Korean government has made inquiries to the Nepalese military and is awaiting a response.

Previously, the South Korean government provided coordinates and maps of areas where missing South Korean nationals are presumed to be located to the Nepalese side, requesting an intensive search.

The private helicopter deployed by the South Korean side has been conducting searches without landing at the site by flying overhead, conducting visual searches, and filming video for re-analysis.

A Foreign Ministry official explained that the accident site features "extremely rugged terrain" that is "steep and densely wooded," making it dangerous even for low-altitude flights.

Even after precise analysis of the captured footage, no individuals presumed to be South Korean nationals were found.

Meanwhile, regarding some reports that around 100 people are trapped in a hydropower plant tunnel under construction by a South Korean company and that missing South Koreans may be among them, corporate explanations stating that it is virtually impossible for South Koreans to have taken shelter in that tunnel have been conveyed to the government.

A Foreign Ministry official stated, premising it as "accounts from our company officials," regarding the tunnel: "It is not the workplace of our missing citizens. And it is not within walking distance. It requires traveling by car," and added, "There is almost no possibility that our citizens took shelter toward the tunnel when the flood occurred."

The Nepalese government has not yet accepted the offer from the South Korean government to dispatch the Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT), maintaining its stance that if additional support is needed, it will request it through official channels.

However, it was understood that the Nepalese side has requested specialized support in specific fields—such as tunnel rescue and searches, DNA identification and forensics, and legal medicine—from neighboring friendly nations.

A Foreign Ministry official explained that these neighboring friendly nations are presumed to be China and India, stating, "We infer that Indian and Chinese tunnel rescue teams have entered and are operating."

No separate requests for support in these specialized fields have yet been received by South Korea, and the government is checking with relevant authorities on the feasibility of providing support in preparation for a potential request from the Nepalese side.

Regarding reports by the Kathmandu Post that the Nepalese government requested cooperation from South Korea, Japan, China, and Australia, the Foreign Ministry stated that it has been "confirmed as misinformation."

Meanwhile, newly appointed South Korean Ambassador to Nepal Park Jae-kyung, who was appointed on August 28, is scheduled to arrive locally on August 31.

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Nepal has been operating under an acting ambassador system following the recent personnel transfer of the former ambassador.

(Photo: Yonhap News)