A top business official from the U.S. says North Korea is hoping to attract foreign investment.

Charles Boyd, president of the Business Executives for National Security (BENS) recently returned from a visit to the North with a delegation of business officials.

Upon his return, he said in a telephone interview with Bloomberg news agency Thursday that the Stalinist country is seeking economic contributions and investment.

He also said the North would like to have companies violate international sanctions by investing in the country, but his delegation made clear that that’s not going to happen.

North Korea has been under economic sanctions for its nuclear program, and the United Nations Security Council adopted tougher sanctions on arms trade and financial transactions after the communist country conducted a second nuclear test in May 2009.

BENS is a nonpartisan organization that seeks to engage regimes that pose potential security risks to the United States.