1.   The Vietnamese government made the decision to send the rice at the beginning of August, the statement said.

2.   Before, Guyana would send rice to Cuba in exchange for salt and cement.

3.   Japan will send rice to North Korea, suffering from food shortages, if South Korea OKs the deal, officials said Monday.

4.   Seoul said it was willing to send rice to North Korea without conditions.

5.   Seoul said it was willing to send rice without conditions.

6.   Tokyo has been hoping relations will improve, particularly in the wake of its decision to send rice to the North on a humanitarian basis.

7.   Upon reports of the request, Seoul proposed Friday that it was willing to send rice to rival North Korea without conditions.

8.   They want assurances that aid is not being diverted to the one-million strong military before they agree to send more rice.

9.   Japan Wednesday welcomed an agreement between North and South Korea on the provision of emergency rice by Seoul to its communist neighbour and offered to send additional rice.

10.   Jiji Press said that the rice would be sent to nine countries, mainly those in Africa.