21.   North Korea has been suffering dire food shortages since last year, when in the wake of disastrous floods it made an unprecedented call for international food aid.

22.   North Korea has been suffering dire food shortages since last year, when it made an unprecedented call for international food aid following disastrous floods .

23.   North Korea stunned the world last year by coming out of its rigid isolation to appeal to the international community for food aid after disastrous floods.

24.   Pyongyang last year made an unprecedented appeal to the international community for food aid in the wake of disastrous floods.