21.   But observers noted how the national Yonhap Television News coupled the showing with footage of South Korean emergency rice aid being shipped to the North.

22.   But observers noted that the national cable service, Yonhap television News, coupled the showing with footage of South Korean emergency rice aid being shipped to the North.

23.   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.

24.   Visiting US Senator Sam Nunn on Friday said emergency rice aid to North Korea should be conditional on North Korean efforts to reduce tensions on the Korean peninsular.

25.   Japan reached broad agreement late Tuesday with North Korea to supply emergency rice aid to relieve a food crisis in the isolated communist nation.

26.   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.

27.   Japan resumed talks Thursday with North Korea on its emergency rice aid to the hardline communist state, the morning after they split mainly over terms of payment.

28.   North and South Korea will open vice ministerial-level talks in Beijing on Saturday to discuss emergency rice aid to the North, government sources said.

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

30.   North Korea, which reportedly faces a serious famine this winter, has arranged emergency rice deals with South Korea and Japan.