N. Korea says western coastal area plagued by severe drought

North Korea's western coastal area has been seriously affected by lingering drought that started in late April, its official media reported, citing the lowest precipitation in a century.

In a dispatch from Pyongyang on Tuesday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said that 1 to 5 mm of rainfall has been reported in some parts of Pyongyang City, South Phyongan Province and North and South Hwanghae provinces since April, the lowest for Pyongyang City in 105 years.

"There was little rainfall in the flat areas in the central part of the west coast, including Pyongyang, Onchon, Unryul, Jaeryong and Yonbaek plains," said the KCNA.

"There has been no rainfall from late April in Kangnam County in Pyongyang City, Anak County in South Hwanghae Province, Songrim City and Junghwa County in North Hwanghae Province, Ryonggang County and Kangso District in Nampho City and Unchon County in South Hwanghae Province."

The long dry spell is attributable to the protrusion of high pressure from the East Sea and Okhotsk Sea staying in the air above the central part of Korea, preventing low pressure from passing through the central part, it added. (Yonhap News)