A government joint rapid response team on Monday began a ground search for nine South Koreans missing in massive floods in Nepal, while continuing to seek permission from Nepali authorities to operate helicopters, Seoul's foreign ministry said. The team plans to make its way to Ramche, about 1-2 kilometers from the site where the nine South Koreans went missing, and camp there overnight, according to the ministry. The team includes officials from the ministry, police and fire authorities, and was dispatched to Nepal last week to support rescue efforts. The ground search began after the team failed to secure helicopter clearance due to bad weather and a decision by Nepalese authorities to bar foreign helicopters from operating. "As we did not receive helicopter clearance Sunday, some team members left by road and moved as close as possible to the accident site," a ministry official said. "After taking the overall situation at the site into consideration, we determined that a ground search would be possible." The team also plans to conduct a drone search in the area, subject to approval fro