North Korea is trying to attract Chinese investment to “more actively” operate factories at the Kaesong Industrial Complex without South Korean companies, two ROK officials said Thursday.

The confirmation came hours after the Joongang Ilbo first reported that the DPRK has been sending photos and details about the suspended inter-Korean complex’s facilities and products to Chinese contacts.

“North Korea is running the facilities at the Kaesong Industrial Complex unilaterally in order to produce goods and products for the DPRK’s internal usage,” a presidential official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“We have detected some signs to confirm to a