North Korean officials warned that heavy rain for days could cause floods or landslides across the country, but not mention casualties.

North Korea's central news agency KCNA said many areas of the country were hit hard by heavy rains in recent days, with HwangHae province, a major agricultural region, being hit hardest.

"It is important to take the necessary measures for the endangered areas," said Dokgo Hyok-chol, an official of the Korean State Meteorological Bureau.

KCNA did not mention any casualties or damage due to heavy rain.

South Korean government sources said the Hwanggang dam, located near the inter-Korean border, opened the flood gates on Aug. 3, but Seoul did not receive any notice from Pyongyang.

The flooding occurred after the North Korean central news agency issued a "particularly heavy rain" warning in Pyongan, Hwanghae, Jagang and Kaesong cities and some other localities.

North Korea has been particularly susceptible to prolonged heavy rains because of its long mountainous terrain without vegetation, which makes flood water more quickly dumped into low-lying areas.