A civic group campaigning for improved human rights situations in North Korea said Thursday that Pyongyang's Agriculture Ministry has expressed serious concern over this year's crop harvest.

The group, Good Friends, argued that the North Korean ministry reported earlier this month that it was concerned this year's harvest, at best, would only feed the North Korean population for six months.

The group quoted the North's Agriculture Ministry as saying that the communist country's southern provinces were hit by floods, while South Hamgyeong Province is experiencing a drought.