Average nationwide precipitation in North Korea between January to mid-May was at its lowest since 1917, the country's Rodong Sinmun reported Friday, with the change in climate said to be resulting in difficulties in rice planting and in the water supply.

An average of 56.3 millimeters of rain fell across the country between January and May 15 this year, section chief of the DPRK's State Hydro-meteorological Administration Dr. Pang Sun Nyo said in a recent interview with the newspaper, which serves as the chief organ of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK).