The government says it understands that North Korea accepted South Korea’s decision to postpone rice aid, albeit begrudgingly, at the 21st inter-Korean ministerial talks, which ended Friday.

Seoul has postponed the shipments as Pyongyang continues to delay dismantlement of its nuclear facilities in accordance with a six-party agreement reached in February.

South Korean Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung said that he persuaded the North that a postponement was inevitable, as his government must obtain public approval for aid to North Korea.

Seoul stood firm on its stance that North Korea must take steps toward nuclear dismantlement to receive the rice aid.

But the North complained about the postponement of the aid and refused to deal with other issues, demanding that South Korea send the rice in late May as promised.

The North's protests led to a virtual collapse of the latest ministerial talks. No date has been set for the next meeting.