NORTH KOREA has been hit by its worst drought in a century, resulting in extensive damage to agriculture, official news agency KCNA has reported.

The drought has caused 30 per cent of rice paddies to dry up, said KCNA. Rice plants need to be partially submerged in early summer to grow.

The agency said on Tuesday: “Water level of reservoirs stands at the lowest, while rivers and streams (are) getting dry,” adding that other crops were being planted in a bid to reduce the food shortage.