North Korea has rejected a request by South Korean lawmakers to visit the Gaeseong Industrial Complex early next month for parliamentary audit purposes.

The National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee sought to visit the inter-Korean complex on October 5 during the ongoing parliamentary audit with the aim to inspect South Korean corporate facilities and the working environment of North Korean workers there .

It was known Thursday that Pyongyang conveyed its final objection to the request on Wednesday.

A committee member said that he believes North Korea has taken issue with the South Korean parliament committee having launched discussions on the North Korean human rights act.

Some South Korean lawmakers speculate the North's refusal is due to planned missile test-launches ahead of October 10 marking the 70th founding anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party.

The Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee planned a visit to the Gaeseong complex last year, which also failed to materialize as the North opposed.