Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' handed the Nepali national flag to an expedition team to Jugal Himal (Mt Jugal).
The maiden ascent of Mt Jugal is taking place to mark the completion of 50 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and the Republic of Korea (RoK).
PM Dahal handed over the flag to the team comprising three Nepalis and seven Koreans and led by renowned Korean mountaineer Um Hong-gil amid a programme at Prime Minister's official residence at Baluwatar, Kathmandu today.
On the occasion, PM Dahal extended best wishes to the mountaineering team for a successful ascent. He also expressed his confidence that this step would further strengthen friendly ties between Nepal and South Korea and would contribute to the promotion of the tourism industry.
The Head of the Government also commended the progress achieved in various areas of cooperation between Nepal and South Korea. He also recalled his meeting with the South Korean President in the latest United Nations General Assembly who had extended him an invitation to visit RoK. Preparation for the visit was afoot, according to PM Dahal.
Present at the flag handover ceremony were South Korean Ambassador to Nepal Park Tae-Young, House of Representatives from Sindhupalchowk. Madhav Sapkota, Bagmati Province Assembly member Saral Sahayattri Poudel, and representatives from the Nepal Mountaineering Association and Nepal Tourism Board.
The government of Nepal last year had decided to open the Jugal I (6,591 metres) and Jugal II (6,518 metres) mountain for climbing along with five other peaks along the Jugal mountain range.
