Three South Korean climbers have died and another is missing in bad weather in Japan's Central Alps, police said.

Nagano prefectural police said the three men were found dead on a popular mountain trail at a height of nearly 3,000m.

The trio, as well as the missing man, are part of a group of 20 South Korean amateur climbers aged between 40 and 70.

They began climbing on Sunday without a Japanese guide and sought rescue after nine of them became separated from the group amid a rainstorm and thick fog that hit the area yesterday. All but the four have been confirmed safe.

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