The first ascent of Liankang Kangri was by a 5-member party led by the Japanese mountaineer Kiyohiko Suzuki on 5 May 1999. According to them, Liankang Kangri was the second highest unclimbed mountain in the world, after Gangkhar Puensum. Team member Tamotsu Nakamura commented to the BBC after the party's success, As I cannot disclose an inside story behind the sudden cancellation, I write only that the reason why the permit was withdrawn was because of a political issue with [the] Bhutan government. (...) I regret that Liangkang Kangri is not an outstanding summit.