The United Nations has stressed the need to coordinate relief aid to North Korea as the flood-stricken country continues to recover from damage due to heavy rains in early August.

The U.S. government's international broadcaster, Voice of America, quoted U.N. official Stephanie Bunker of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) as saying that some parts of the North may receive an excess of aid goods while others suffer shortages.

Bunker said that it was difficult for the world body to coordinate aid from governments and civic groups sent directly to the North.

In particular, medicines were likely to be in oversupply as private organizations have sent large amounts.