( CNN ) -- North Korea , reeling from a powerful tropical cyclone , will accept aid from South Korean government for the first time in two years , South Korea said Monday . The United Nations World Food Program called for emergency help for North Korea after cyclone Bolaven hit in August , killing at least 48 and leaving 21,000 homeless , according to North Korea 's state news agency KCNA . Some media reported that the death toll could be higher . Typhoon tourism : One week in North Korea . The storm followed widespread flooding in late July from heavy rains , which caused the death of at least 169 people , according to KCNA . South Korea offered aid to North Korea through the Korean Red Cross last week . `` We got a reply back from North Korea this morning , '' requesting aid , said Park Soo-jin , deputy spokeswoman of South Korea 's Unification Ministry . The two countries are still legally at war and relations between them are tense at the best of times . South Korea halted aid to the North after it shelled Yeongpyeong Island in November 2010 , killing two South Korean marines and two civilians . Pyongyang claimed it was retaliating for South Korean artillery landing in their waters during a military drill . This is not the first aid proposal by the South . Last year , Seoul offered Pyongyang aid in the form of instant noodles and biscuits , but the offer was rejected after the North called for rice and cement , according to Yonhap News Agency . The aid deal will be discussed via document exchanges through the neutral village of Panmunjom . North Korea agreed to accept food aid from a private agency , the Korea Peace Foundation , in January , South Korea 's Unification Ministry said at the time . TIME : North Korea threatens South over Christmas lights .
North Korea is suffering after a powerful tropical cyclone hit last month , killing dozens . Comment: North Korea has n't taken aid from the South in two years . North and South are legally at war and relations between the two are very tense .