Finance ministers and other executives busy discussing the future of Eastern European transition economies at a European Bank for Reconstruction and Development meeting were reminded of a country far from Europe which needs aid to transform its economy.

"I strongly recommend North Korea as a next candidate to become a recipient country, once it decides to transform itself into a market economy," Young Geol Lee, vice minister of strategy and finance, said in a speech. "Please bear in mind that North Korea has great potentials as a future client of the EBRD."