＜Inside N. Korea＞ ‘Made in Kaesong’ is North Korea’s hottest brand ... unauthorized operations continue at the Kaesong Industrial Complex

As the reporting partner had never seen the ‘Made in Kaesong’ tags personally, the partner could not tell if the products were made with materials from South Korea or from China. It is likely, the partner said, that the Kaesong-made products are manufactured with raw materials, such as fabric and zippers, sent from China and with some materials left behind by South Korean companies when they withdrew.

When South Korean companies withdrew from the Kaesong Industrial Complex in 2016, the North Korean authorities began to secretly operate the factories, originally, to produce high-quality clothing to be exported to China. In 2017, however, U.N. sanctions were tightened and exports to China were banned, so the products were instead sold to rich clientele domestically. ASIAPRESS conducted an investigation of the continued production in Kaesong and released its findings in January 2018.

The North Korean government, however, has previously admitted to continuing operations in the Kaesong Industrial Complex. On October 6, 2017, through Uriminzokkiri, a state-run website for delivering propaganda to a South Korean audience, the regime declared that “Whatever business we conduct in the Industrial Complex is of no concern to others ... the Industrial Complex factories will continue to be operated at full capacity".

Meanwhile, power to the Kaesong Industrial Complex from South Korea remains cut off.

※ ASIAPRESS contacts its reporting partners through Chinese mobile phones smuggled into North Korea.

Editor’s notes on North Korean reporters
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