North Korea on Tuesday called off joint celebrations planned with South Korea to mark the August 15th Liberation Day, citing damages from recent floods.

The North Korean committee organizing the event said in a faxed message that it found it undesirable to hold the celebrations when flood victims are suffering in both Koreas.

The message said that this year's unusual downpour wreaked havoc on the peninsula and that many North Koreans are being mobilized for relief work.

Pyongyang also cancelled its annual mass gymnastics show the Arirang Festival on Monday, due to serious damage from the rain, which it says has left hundreds of people dead or missing.

The two Koreas have held joint events to celebrate the nation's independence from Japanese colonial rule since the 2000 inter-Korean summit.