The Red Cross said South Korean authorities were ready to discuss the necessary relief supplies, the scale of aid and how it would be delivered, and hoped to receive a prompt response from North Korea.

The statement was issued by South Korea's Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs. The Red Cross has been at the forefront of inter-Korean projects in the past, including reuniting separated families and providing aid.

North Korean state media reported that heavy rains have hit northwestern regions of the country in recent days, flooding more than 4,000 homes in the Sinuiju and Uiju areas.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un personally inspected flooded areas and expressed deep concern over the damage, North Korean media reported earlier this week.

The region has been hit by heavy rain from Tropical Storm Gaemi in recent days. The storm has caused landslides that have killed 12 people in southern China and caused flash floods elsewhere.

A South Korean Unification Ministry official said there was a possibility of “significant human casualties” in North Korea. South Korea’s Chosun TV reported that between 1,100 and 1,500 people were dead or missing, citing an unnamed government official.

North Korean state media reported on August 1 that the capital Pyongyang is carrying out a project to prevent flooding on the Taedong River.

The offer of help comes amid particularly tense relations between South Korea and North Korea, over North Korea's launching of balloons carrying trash into the South and Seoul's response to loudspeaker broadcasts across the border.

It is unclear whether Pyongyang has responded to the offer or agreed to discuss it.

It is difficult to make a clear assessment of the damage and casualties from the disaster in North Korea. According to the South Korean weather agency, more rain is forecast in Sinuiju on August 1-2.

Hoai Phuong (according to Reuters)