Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and several other former global leaders have arrived in Pyongyang.

Diplomatic sources said that Carter and members of "The Elders" group will discuss North Korea's food shortage during their three-day stay in Pyongyang.

Carter is accompanied by former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, former Irish President Mary Robinson and former Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland.

During a news conference in Beijing on Monday, Carter described the North’s food shortage situation as “horrible,” and said the food issue will top the group’s discussions with North Korean officials.

During their stay in Beijing, the group held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and confirmed the North’s stance on key issues, including its uranium enrichment program and its nuclear weapons program.

Yang stressed to the group the need and urgency to resume the stalled six-way nuclear talks. He reportedly asked the group of former leaders to take an active role as mediators between the two Koreas.