By Kim Hyo-jin
North Korea has been hit hard by the worst drought in a century, causing damage to the farm production in the impoverished country, according to a media report Friday.
Water-borne disease is also spreading across the country, the report said.
"North Korean rice paddies have been hit by a long-lasting drought and it's affecting agricultural production," United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) was quoted as saying by Radio Free Asia (RFA).
Drought has aggravated the quality of water, thereby spreading water-borne disease among North Korean citizens, it added.
UNOCHA said that the drought had a serious impact on North Korea in its report on the reclusive country's humanitarian situation, RFA said.
North Korea has been suffering what it has called the worst drought in 100 years.
Pyongyang's state media KCNA reported in mid-June that more than 30 percent of rice paddies in the country were parched because of a lack of rain.
As the drought continued, the isolated country asked for emergency relief from Iran.
North Korean Ambassador to Iran Kang Sam-hyon reportedly met the head of the Iranian Red Crescent Seyed Amir Hossein Ziaee Thursday, to ask for humanitarian aid to his country, the Iranian state media Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.
"Due to economic sanctions and unprecedented drought, we are now facing economic difficulties. We need equipment to overcome the situation and improve our agricultural environment," Kang was quoted as saying.
On the request made on behalf of North Korean Prime Minister Pak Pong-ju, the Red Crescent chief reportedly said, "Iran is duty bound to render humanitarian aid to all countries."
Iran will "spare no effort" to help the situation, he added.
However, the amount of aid has yet to be decided.
Pyongyang's move drew attention because it has not responded to calls from South Korea and China, which announced their willingness to assist the drought-hit North.
China is a main benefactor of North Korea. Bilateral trade between North Korea and China makes up more than 80 percent of the North’s total trade.
Pyongyang has maintained a close relationship with Tehran and the two sides reportedly cooperated in the development of weapons of mass destruction, including missiles.
Pyongyang also supported Tehran during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s.