The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is reported to have re-designated North Korea as a country suffering from a food shortage.

According to Radio Free Asia (RFA) Friday, North Korea was on a list of 33 countries facing food emergencies in the FAO's latest quarterly report.

The FAO said North Korea is short 360-thousand tons of food, but it has so far secured only 142-thousand tons, including 127-thousand tons of imports and 15-thousand tons in international aid.

The FAO said the food shortage in the North was worse this year compared to last year because of a smaller harvest due to drought and heavy floods in Northeastern areas.