21.   The South has since balked at resuming its rice shipments.

22.   The South has since balked at resuming its rice shipments, asking for reciprocal steps.

23.   The rice shipments are now expected to resume.

24.   US Congressman Bill Richardson said here Wednesday North Korea had admitted to food shortages as Seoul urged Pyongyang to respond to its offer of emergency rice shipments.

25.   Last month, Seoul briefly suspended the rice shipments when the North forced a southern rice freighter to lower the South Korean flag.

26.   Last month, Seoul suspended the rice shipments until the North expressed regret for forcing the captain of one rice freighter to lower the South Korean flag.

27.   Last month, South Korea stopped rice shipments until the North apologised for forcing the captain of a freighter to lower the South Korean flag.

28.   North Korea reportedly has made private contacts with the South in Beijing since last Friday to finalize plans for emergency rice shipments.

29.   The armistice announcement dashed any slim hopes however, that the rice shipments would bring a thaw in hostile inter-Korean relations.