1.   Then this spring, North Korea showed unexpected flexibility by asking for rice shipments to ease a shortage at home.

2.   But instead of mending ties, the rice shipments for poverty stricken communist North created more.

3.   But it also said it will not apologize until it can determine what happened and has suspended rice shipments until the dispute is resolved.

4.   But Seoul maintains the North must open dialogue and stop anti-South propaganda before any rice shipment is considered.

5.   It has suspended rice shipments until the dispute is resolved.

6.   It was unclear whether the new flexibility would translate into rice shipments.

7.   Meanwhile,Sudjarwo, spokesman for state port operator PT Pelindo II which operates Tanjung Priok port, said that no more rice shipments were expected until August.

8.   Official newspapers have reported a sharp increase in illegal rice shipments to China, leaving northern Vietnam and especially Hanoi short of rice.

9.   Officials at the Unification Board said the apology appears to be enough for South Korea to resume rice shipment.

10.   South Korean rice shipments will clear the way for Japan to give food to the North, too.