The Republic of Korea (ROK) is ready to provide the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) with relief supplies for damage caused by recent heavy rainfall, ROK's Red Cross said on Thursday, marking a rare outreach under the administration of President Yoon Suk-yeol to its neighbor.

Authorities in the ROK were ready to discuss the relief supplies needed, the scale of aid and how to transfer it and looked forward to a swift response from Pyongyang, the Red Cross said.

The statement was issued by the ROK's Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs. The Red Cross has taken the lead in carrying out projects between the Koreas in the past, including reunions of separated families and supply of aid.

Heavy rains have hit the DPRK's northwestern areas in recent days, flooding more than 4,000 homes in the regions of Sinuiju and Uiju, the DPRK's state media have reported.