North Korea said Sunday it was being lashed by severe thunderstorms that could cause major damage, just days after flooding that killed scores and left tens of thousands homeless.

State media reported strong winds and heavy rains were battering parts of the country, including the capital Pyongyang, with the official news agency predicting that “most regions will face huge damages”.

The second unusually detailed report on bad weather in two days will add to concerns the North’s farmland has been ravaged, which could cause new food shortages in a state that struggles to feed its people at the best of times.

Following a visit to the country, UN agencies estimated last November that three million people would need food aid in 2012.

It also represents a challenge for new leader Kim Jong-Un, struggling to get to grips with running one of the world’s most secretive states.