Yonhap News Summary: Nepal Floods, Won Strength, Jeju Death, and Cabinet Reshuffle

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Monday.

■ Gov't team begins ground search for 9 missing Koreans in Nepal floods

SEOUL -- 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.

■ S. Korean won advances to 13-month high on dollar selling

SEOUL -- The South Korean won advanced to its strongest level against the U.S. dollar in about 13 months, driven by dollar-selling by exporters.

The won was quoted at 1,368.6 won per dollar at 3:30 p.m., up 3.9 won from the close of the previous stock trading session.

■ Cause of death unknown for missing woman found dead on Jeju: police

SEOUL -- The exact cause of death remains unknown for a missing woman who was recently found dead on the southern resort island of Jeju due to body decomposition, a senior police official said Monday.

The body of the victim, identified by her surname Jang, was discovered last Monday at a palm tree farm near an accommodation facility she had stayed at, months after she was first reported missing by her boyfriend in May.

■ S. Korea's biz lobby group chief calls for stronger economic ties with Japan

SEOUL -- The head of South Korea's major business lobby group on Monday stressed the need for closer economic cooperation with Japan, saying the two countries share many similarities and can serve as partners in expanding each other's markets.

Chey Tae-won, chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), made the remarks in his opening speech at a meeting with his Japanese counterpart held in Sendai, Japan.

■ N. Korea denounces U.S. hostile policy toward it, vows 'toughest' response

SEOUL -- North Korea on Monday denounced the United States for maintaining what it called a "hostile" policy and vowed to respond with the "toughest" countermeasures.

A spokesperson at North Korea's foreign ministry made the criticism, slamming Washington for pursuing "hostile" measures under the banner of denuclearization and human rights.

■ Main opposition slams Lee's Cabinet reshuffle over key ministerial picks

SEOUL -- The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) on Monday criticized President Lee Jae Myung's latest Cabinet reshuffle, accusing him of putting his political interests before improving people's livelihoods.

Lee tapped six ministers in a major reshuffle on Sunday, including Rep. Kim Seung-won of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) as the new justice minister and Rep. Yong Hye-in, floor leader of the minor Basic Income Party, as the new gender equality minister.