The Washington Post says a private university in North Korea is offering hand-selected students "a rare window to the outside world."

In a report titled, "Private university in North Korea offers lessons in science and world peace," the Post said the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology is backed by evangelical Christians and Western-trained scientists and aims "to give future leaders tools to develop the country’s backward economy and promote peace on the Korean Peninsula."

It says that this week, the year-old school hosted its first international conference for “the advancement of science education and international cooperation,” with dozens of foreign speakers invited, including a Nobel laureate from the United States.

The article says that prominent U.S. science organizations are closely watching this school with interest in forging research partnerships that might offer solutions to medical problems or food shortages in North Korea and build trust between the two nations.