Despite little progress in inter-Korean relations, production in North Korea’s Gaeseong Industrial Complex, which houses South Korean factories is increasing, data showed.

According to a report released by the Unification Ministry in Seoul, production in the first half of this year in the GIC located in the border city of Gaeseong soared 23 percent from the same period last year.

The number of North Korean workers in the industrial park, which amounted to 46,194 in January last year, rose to 51,310 in June this year.

They said the increase in production is noteworthy because it was made even at a time when inter-Korean relations were bad due to the North’s sinking of a South Korean battleship in 2010.

By Kim Eun-seo (estee.kim@gmail.com)