North Korea has officially asked for relief aid from South Korea as it tries to recover from major flood damage.

In a faxed message Wednesday, the North's committee on implementing the June 15th inter-Korean Declaration thanked the civic groups in Seoul for their assistance and asked for construction materials such as cement and steel, trucks, food, blankets and medicine.

It is Pyongyang's first official request for help since heavy downpours hit the famine-stricken nation in mid-July and reportedly left hundreds of people dead and thousands missing or injured.

The North will brief the South on its flood damage in working-level talks on Friday where aid measures will be discussed.

South Korea had halted rice and fertilizer aid to the North over its missile launches early last month.