S. Korea to call on World Bank to help N. Korea

South Korea's finance and economy minister plans to ask the World Bank to provide aid to reduce poverty and hardship in North Korea, a government source said Tuesday.

The official at the finance ministry said Han Duck-soo will make the request to World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz later in the day. Wolfowitz, the former U.S. deputy secretary of defense, said in a interview with Japan's Nihon Keizai newspaper earlier in the week that just as China joined the World Bank and successfully carried out economic reforms, so too could North Korea. The statement is seen as a sign that the World Bank may consider offering support to the communist country.

In addition to North Korea, the two men are also expected to discuss Seoul's contribution to the organization that aims to offer vital financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world.

South Korea said it will donate US$30 million to the bank in July to be used developing the information technology infrastructure in the world's poorest countries. The country said it could also share its development experiences.

Before his meeting with Han, the World Bank head will meet with President Roh Moo-hyun to discuss various outstanding issues.

The official, who is to leave the country on Wednesday after an overnight stay, will take part in the signing ceremony for the World Bank-Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) Private Sector Liaison Officer agreement.

He is also expected to meet the education minister and vice foreign minister before his departure. Seoul, May 30 (Yonhap News)