Nepal and South Korea have discussed ongoing efforts to locate South Korean nationals missing after the devastating Bhotekoshi river flood, as well as cooperation on disaster recovery and climate change.

Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal met his South Korean counterpart Cho Hyun in Kathmandu on Sunday, with the two ministers reviewing search, rescue and relief operations following the August 26 flooding.

Khanal thanked the South Korean government for sending an inter-agency rapid response team and a disaster relief team to assist with search and rescue operations in the flood-hit areas. He also expressed appreciation for humanitarian assistance and relief supplies provided to affected communities.

The ministers also discussed efforts to find South Korean citizens who went missing after the flood.

Khanal said Nepal had made post-disaster reconstruction a priority and would seek to build safer and more resilient infrastructure under a “build back better” approach. He expressed hope that South Korea would continue to support Nepal’s recovery efforts.

Cho said South Korea was willing to assist in Nepal’s post-disaster reconstruction and rehabilitation.

The South Korean minister also called for greater international attention to the loss of lives and infrastructure suffered by countries such as Nepal as a result of climate change. He said Nepal and South Korea should work together to highlight the impacts of climate-related disasters at international forums, including United Nations climate conferences, according to the foreign minister’s secretariat.

Cho also said South Korea would support Nepal’s efforts to secure international financial assistance for losses caused by climate change.

The two ministers agreed to deepen cooperation in areas including labour, development, trade, investment, technology and people-to-people ties. They also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the longstanding friendship and mutual trust between the two countries.

South Korea has provided search and rescue assistance and humanitarian support to Nepal following the latest disaster, further strengthening bilateral cooperation during the emergency.