North Korea’s ambassador to Iran yesterday asked the Iranian Red Crescent Society for humanitarian assistance, according to local news outlet the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

Ambassador Kang Sam Hyon made an emergency request during a meeting with the head of the Iranian relief agency, Amir Hossein Ziaee.

According to the report, Ziaee gave a positive response to the request, who said the organisation would help given the current ongoing drought in the DPRK.

“We are very glad that friendly relations between the two countries are still strong,” said North Korean ambassador,” Kang said in comments carried by IRNA.

At the time of publication, the Red Crescent Society’s Director General could not be reached for comment on the news.

North Korea has claimed the low levels of rainfall in the country could severely damage crop yields this year, with Kang telling the Iranian organization the drought was unprecedented.

The NK News KCNA Watch data tool indicates there has been a noticeable uptick in reports covering the North Korean drought in DPRK media, with 10 articles on the issue published in June.

Iran’s Red Crescent Society is aid organization is an aid and welfare organization that works in conjunction with the Red Cross.

North Korea has long been reliant on food aid to feed its population, with numerous UN agencies, NGOs and the Red Cross already working in the country.

North Korea and Iran enjoy relatively friendly relations, though traditionally are suspected to have cooperated in weapons and missile technologies.

Tehran says that military cooperation between the two countries ended in the 1980s.