The location of the satellite phone, where Captain Kim Hong-bin (57), who went missing on the descent after climbing 14 seats in the Himalayas, directly requested rescue, has been confirmed.
Today (21st), according to the Gwangju Municipal Accident Remediation Committee, etc., the signal from the satellite phone that Kim was carrying while climbing was captured at a 7,000m point at Broad Peak (8,47m) in the Himalayas.
This is 900m below the 7,900m point where Captain Kim was wrecked by the ice wall.
It is estimated that Captain Kim was in trouble while passing the crevasses (cracks in the glacier) at the 7,900m point at 0 o'clock (local time) on the 19th.
Afterwards, at 5:55 am, South Korea requested rescue by satellite phone, and at 11 am, the Russian team climbed on their own using the Zuma (climbing machine) during the rescue, but fell again and disappeared.
It is known that the search authorities plan to conduct a search around the point where the satellite phone signal was captured.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested the Pakistan and Chinese authorities to dispatch rescue teams, including search helicopters, and the Pakistan Army Air and Rescue Team helicopters are on standby.
However, it is said that the rescue helicopter cannot be launched yet due to bad local weather conditions.
A search team is also currently on standby at the base camp.
An official from the search authorities said, "It seems that the search should be conducted focusing on the point where the satellite phone signal was captured." "There is no phone contact with Captain Kim. It has not been confirmed whether Captain Kim is at an estimated location or only by phone." said.
(Photo = provided by the Gwangju City Mountaineering Federation, Yonhap News)