South Korea is ready to support North Korea as the North has been suffering from what Pyongyang called the worst drought in a century, Seoul's pointman on inter-Korean affairs has said.



The Unification Ministry has said that North Korea is likely to see its crop production fall by up to 20 percent this year if the dry spell continues through early July.



Minister Hong Yong-pyo said Seoul is willing to offer the necessary support to the North if the North's situation deteriorates, but added that the South will wait for Pyongyang's request.



"At a time when the two Koreas are coping with drought, I think that this situation can be a chance to promote cooperation," Hong said in a meeting with a group of reporters on Tuesday. "If North Korea faces tougher situations, South Korea is willing to provide the necessary support to North Korea."



He did not elaborate on the kinds of support.



Seoul, however, does not have any immediate plans to make such a proposal to the North preemptively, he said, hinting that Seoul needs Pyongyang's request for help.



"The South is carefully reviewing how to approach this matter," he added.



In 2014, the North reported its smallest rainfall in 15 years and the United Nations has warned that North Korea is likely to suffer from serious food shortages this year.



The North has relied on international handouts since 1995 to help feed its people in the face of chronic food shortages.



A U.N. report showed that about 70 percent of North Korea's 24.6 million people suffer from food shortages and 1.8 million, including children and pregnant women, are in need of nutrition.



Meanwhile, Hong expressed regret over the North's boycott of the upcoming Summer Universiade in South Korea due to political reasons, saying that the sports competition could be a good chance for dialogue.



Last week, the North issued a rare statement that it is ready to hold dialogue with Seoul if certain conditions are met, including the suspension of the South's joint military drills with the United States.



Hong said North Korea looks "passive" in its efforts to improve the strained inter-Korean ties, noting the North's offer is seen as a step forward in bilateral ties, but it is regrettable that Pyongyang attached preconditions for dialogue. (Yonhap)



