Severe drought conditions in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea are prompting fears that parts of the population may suffer food shortages. Rain fell on Friday, but it seems too little and too late to salvage this year's harvest.

Through May and June, parts of the Korean peninsula have suffered the most severe drought since records began, nearly 105 years ago. According to a UN report earlier this month, DPRK farmers are also facing shortages of fuel, equipment, seeds and fertiliser.

Many irrigation systems rely on electrical pumping stations, in a country with unstable power supplies. With the drought raising doubts over a full grain output this year, food shortages are expected to get worse.