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North Korea has been facing food shortages after heavy rains wiped out crops back in July and August. Now, South Korean civic groups are helping out by sending 50 tons of rice to the North.

South Korean civic groups gathered at a border area between the two Koreas on Thursday. They're sending 50 tons of rice to North Korea, which is struggling from chronic food shortages.

[Park Chang-gyun, Civic Group Leader]:
"There is plenty of rice in South Korea and the price is getting cheaper. We would like to share the rice with North Korean people. We hope to resolve the strained relationship between the two governments through this event."

Two trucks carrying the rice crossed the border into the North and are expected to arrive in Kaesong late Thursday.

The groups said they've asked the North to allow them to monitor the rice distribution process.

Heavy rains in July and August hit food production in North Korea this year. Even in a good year the country falls a million tons short of the amount needed to feed its 23-million population.

North and South Korea are still technically at war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce without a peace treaty.