The International Herald Tribune says North Korea is trying to attract foreign investment despite global condemnation over its nuclear test earlier this month.

The daily said Sunday that the Taesong Golf Course near Pyongyang will hold the inaugural "Business Golf Challenge" to promote foreign investment. About 30 players are expected to compete in the event.

The tournament was arranged before the nuclear test.

The managing director of Korea Business Consultancy and organizer of the event, Roger Barrett, was quoted as saying most of the players are "foreign businesspeople who either have already sunk money into the North Korean economy or are seriously considering it."

The Tribune says they are not merchants or arms dealers from a handful of countries in the Middle East and Asia that remain on friendly terms with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.

Barrett said many people want the chance to go the communist country and see what it's like, adding the North is like what China was 20 years ago.