An editorial included in the British daily The Times says China must exercise its influence in order to alleviate the imminent famine in North Korea.

The editorial, "Catastrophe in North Korea," says hunger killed millions of North Koreans in the 1990s, and threatens to do so again.

It says that a botched currency conversion in the North has destroyed private savings and that black markets in food have shut down, rice stocks are running out and the barley harvest is yet to start.

The article called for China to intervene, saying Beijing’s anger and coercion should be exercised on those responsible for the disaster, and not on blaming the victims and repatriating North Koreans who flee across the border.