Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said on Friday that Australia would be prepared to help the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) dealing with a reported huge train blast if DPRK asked for help.

The DPRK has yet to confirm the train explosion that South Korean media said has killed or injured up to 3,000 people.

The blast occurred Thursday afternoon when two trains carrying oil and liquified petroleum gas collided and exploded in Ryongchon,a town about 50 kilometers north of Pyongyang, the Yohap news agency reported.

"We'd be prepared to provide appropriate assistance within the confines of our ability to help them," Downer told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio.

But he said Australia had not got any official information and request for assistance so far from the DPRK.

Australia is one of the few Western countries that have diplomatic ties with the DPRK. Australia's Ambassador-designate toDPRK presented credentials to Pyongyang earlier this month.

Source: Xinhua