朝鲜面临百年来最严重的旱灾

North Korea is suffering through its most severe drought in a century, according to a state media outlet, worsening an already serious food shortage in the impoverished country.

"The worst drought in 100 years continues in the DPRK, causing great damage," said the Korean Central News Agency on Tuesday.

KCNA said paddies have dried up in several key rice-growing provinces, including Hwanghae and Pyongan, because of almost a total lack of rainfall.

North Korea experienced a devastating famine in the early 1990s, leaving hundreds of thousands dead.

It has since has suffered regular chronic food shortages, with the situation exacerbated by floods, droughts and mismanagement.

The United Nations says 70 percent of the population, or 18 million North Koreans, are food insecure and lack nutritional diversity. Malnutrition rates are high, with 27.9 percent of children under five suffering from chronic malnutrition.