The Los Angeles Times reports that North Korea is mobilizing soldiers and civil servants to work on farms in the face of an imminent food crisis.

In its article on Haegumgang, North Korea, the newspaper reported Sunday that the communist regime has begun a mass mobilization of farm workers.

It said that North Korea's food problems seem to have been aggravated because of the stalled nuclear talks and a delay in South Korea's fertilizer aid.

The newspaper pointed out that Pyongyang seems to believe a bountiful crop is necessary this year because of rising tensions with the U.S. and other western nations.

North Korea believes that the international community may consider economic sanctions against it if there is no progress in resolving the nuclear issue or if the six-nation talks fail to resume.

Meanwhile, the World Food Program announced it could not provide food aid to 3.6 million North Koreans due to the current lack of international support.

The WFP said in an urgent message Sunday that the elderly, young and poor are suffering the most from the food crisis.