31.   He feared that without government intervention and food relief, the number of deaths would swell.

32.   He pointed to the United Nations World Food Program as the organisation of choice for distributing the food relief.

33.   But the South Korean officials said massive food relief would come only after Pyongyang has taken the decisive step towards stabilizing the situation on the Korean peninsula.

34.   But the South Korean officials said massive food relief would come only after Pyongyang has made the decisive step towards stabilising the situation on the Korean peninsula.

35.   Earlier in Tokyo, South Korean Foreign Minister Yoo Chong-Ha said his country could provide additional food relief if North Korea accepted the proposal for four-party talks.

36.   Earlier in Tokyo, South Korean Foreign Minister Yoo Chong-Ha said his country could provide additional food relief if North Korea accepts the proposal for four-party talks.

37.   The World Food Programme is sending helicopters from Mazar-i-Sharif to bring food relief.

38.   Washington maintains that the decision to grant food relief should be based on humanitarian considerations.

39.   Japan has declined to respond to international appeals for food relief for North Korea, citing unresolved cases of kidnappings of its citizens by North Koreans.