North Korea says nearly 170 died in recent floods

Residents wait on the roof of a flooded building in Anju City, South Phyongan Province, North Korea Monday, July 30, 2012. Officials said 1,000 houses and buildings were destroyed and 2,300 hectares of farmland were completely submerged in the city. (AP Photo/Kim Kwang Hyon)

SEOUL, South Korea —North Korea says recent floods have killed nearly 170 people and left 400 missing across the country.

The official Korean Central News Agency said Saturday that 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.

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.