A U.N. food agency says North Korea needs to secure this year one-point-seven to one-point-eight million tons of food from outside sources due to decreased rice and corn yields.

U.S.-based Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported Thursday that the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) expected the North's rice yields for the year to be around two-point-four to two-point-six million tons, which would be similar to last year’s level.

The broadcaster quoted an FAO official as saying that the North's crop yields, especially those of corn, will be significantly lower this year despite good weather due to lack of fertilizer and outdated agricultural machinery.