The Czech Republic is pondering forgiving part of cash-strapped
North Korea's debt in exchange for ginseng, known as a health tonic
and male aphrodisiac, the finance ministry said on Wednesday.
"At a working meeting we asked them for some goods, and one of
the options was ginseng imports -- though it was not an official
offer from their side," Czech deputy finance minister Tomas Zidek
told AFP.
The Czech daily Dnes recently wrote that North Korea had
proposed to ship the exotic root to pay five percent of the 186
million koruna (7.5 million euros, 9.7 million dollars) debt from
past supplies of Czech trams and machines.
But it said the sum corresponded to about 20 tonnes of ginseng,
while Czechs annually consume just 1.4 tonnes of ginseng believed
to combat lethargy, arthritis, impotence and senility among other
conditions.
Still, Zidek maintains that the idea has potential.
"Based on the story in the press, we had calls from dealers
willing to trade ginseng so it would be good business for the
state," he said.