[Anchor]

South Korea is not the only country facing difficulties with search operations in Nepal. This is because the Nepali government strictly restricts rescue activities by other countries.

Reporter Min Gyeongho explains the reasons why.

[Reporter]

Deep, narrow gorges and lands turned into swamps after massive floods.

The Nepali government cites these conditions as a key reason for not allowing search teams from other countries.

Only helicopters can access the affected areas, which is not an easy task even for Nepali pilots who are familiar with the terrain, and it could also put rescue workers in danger.

[Sisir Kanal / Foreign Minister of Nepal: Even Nepali helicopters have to wait in line to pass through the narrow gorges.]

This also appears to reflect experiences from the 2015 Nepal earthquake, which caused more than 30,000 casualties.

At the time, aircraft from various countries flocked to the airport, taking three days for rescue teams to land, and out of the 61 rescue teams that arrived, only 16 met UN standards.

As a result, the government is prioritizing requests for professional technical support over direct search and rescue.

[Sisir Kanal / Foreign Minister of Nepal: (We have requested neighboring countries for support) to further strengthen search and rescue capabilities, such as work to clear access routes to tunnels where people are trapped, or technology to find survivors in affected areas.]

Some interpretations suggest that Nepal is reluctant to allow rescue teams from South Korea, the United States, and Japan to enter because the areas border Tibet, which is controlled by China. However, Nepali authorities have denied that relations with China were a factor.

The political orientation of the new government, which was launched in March of this year after winning a general election with the support of the younger generation following the so-called Nepal Gen Z Revolution, is also being discussed.

Prime Minister Balendra Shah, a former prominent rapper, emphasizes reform and self-reliance.

Nepali authorities also stated, "Nepal accounts for less than 0.01 percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions, yet it has become one of the biggest victims of climate change," requesting international assistance for the preservation of the Himalayan ecosystem and other efforts.

(Video Editing: Lee Seung-yeol)