A World Health Organization (WHO) official in Pyongyang has urged special care for children injured in Thursday's devastating train blast in the North's border town of Ryongchon.

Dr. Eigil Sorensen, WHO representative to Pyongyang, on Tuesday stressed the need for long-term specialized treatment for children, saying that he had visited four hospitals in Sinuiju and seen that children comprised two-thirds of some 370 train blast victims being treated in the hospitals.

Sorensen also said that around 90 of the patients have serious eye injuries, and called for the prompt provision of medical supplies needed to treat ocular injuries.

Sorensen added that after personally inspecting some 200 patients, he found 15 percent were in critical condition while a quarter of them were slightly injured. He added that despite the poor medical status of the hospitals, treatment of the blast victims was being carried out in a relatively reasonable manner.

Sorensen also said that the four hospitals he visited were using medical supplies and equipment provided by the North's health ministry and international organizations.