A U.S. daily says South Korea is concerned that China will dominate rights to develop North Korea’s mineral resources.

The Washington Post said Sunday that as North Korea's closest ally and main benefactor, China has had better access to its mines than any other country.

In exchange for mining rights, the daily said Beijing has helped the North construct roads, repair ports and build a glass factory. In exchange, it has provided oil, equipment and food.

The paper said in order to catch up with China, South Korea opened regular rail freight service to parts of the North and signed an economic cooperation accord worth eleven billion dollars last year. The report also noted that the North's zinc exports to the South doubled last year.

However, the daily was quick to add that an unanswered question for South Korea is whether the Lee Myung-bak government will make denuclearization or human rights a condition for investment in the North's mines.

The impoverished country has large deposits of iron ore, zinc and uranium, as well as coal. It also has the world's largest known deposits of magnesite, an essential part of lightweight metal used in cars, airplanes and electronic equipment.