Missing Korean climber feared dead in French Alps: foreign ministry

SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean man who fell from a cliff in the French
Alps and went missing is feared dead, the foreign ministry here said Monday,
adding a search is underway.
The 47-year-old man, identified only by his surname Shin, reportedly fell Sunday
while making a descent at an altitude of 3,600m, according to the ministry and
foreign media reports. The two others who accompanied him were safe.
The climber, a native of Okcheon county, about 175km south of Seoul, was presumed
to have died from the fall but his body has not yet been found.
"He seems to have slipped while coming down the mountain," a foreign ministry
official said. "We have urged the local authorities to find him as soon as
possible."
The man was believed to be an amateur climber and was not registered with the
Korean Alpine Federation.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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