31.  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.

32.  But the New York meeting bogged down this week after North Korea demanded massive food aid before it gave an answer.

33.  But the New York meetings became bogged down after North Korea demanded massive food aid before giving an answer.

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 this month, Pyongyang failed to deliver a positive answer about the peace talks, demanding prior guarantees of massive food aid from both Washington and Seoul.

36.  Foreign Minister Yoo Chong-Ha has said South Korea could offer massive food aid when the North comes to the dialogue table for peace talks.

37.  The peace proposal was put on ice after the North demanded guarantees of massive food aid from the United States and South Korea before committing itself.

38.  They also stressed that massive food aid would be conditional on progress in the peace process.

39.  North Korea has apparently replaced its top agricultural policymaker as massive food shortages continued for the third straight year, monitors said Tuesday.

40.  Tensions meanwhile persist with North Korea, believed to be suffering from massive food shortages and other economic problems.