The United Nations food agency forecasts that North Korea may need at least one million tons of food aid.

In its report released Thursday "Crop Prospects and Food Situation," the Food and Agriculture Organization estimated the impoverished country's total cereal import needs for this and next year, including commercial imports, at a minimum one-million tons.

The report said cereal output this year is lower than last year due to devastating floods in July and October.

The report also says that food rations will have to be cut for millions of people largely due to suspension of food aid following the North's missile and nuclear tests.

South Korea, on the other hand, is expected to have three-million tons of cereal in stock next year, a slight rise from this year.