North Korea estimates 170 deaths in recent floods

Recent floods in North Korea have killed nearly 170 people and left 400 missing across the country, the official Korean Central News Agency said on Saturday.

Floods also displaced about 212,200 people and submerged more than 65,000 hectares (160,000 acres) of farmland between late June and the end of July, it added.

The flooding occurred on the heels of a severe drought and renewed concerns about North Korea’s ability to feed its people. In June, the United Nations said two-thirds of the country’s 24 million people were facing chronic food shortages.

The World Food Program said earlier this week that it is sending emergency food aid to the North’s flood-ravaged parts.