 From VOA Learning English, this is the economics report. North and South Korea reopened their joint factory zone recently. Lines of trucks and cars crossed South Korea's northern border on the way to K-Song, North Korea. About 800 South Korean workers and their supervisors entered the jointly operated K-Song industrial complex. They brought materials and parts to restart production for the first time in months. South Korean managers expressed happiness at returning to work. Ji Yoon-tae is deputy chief of a South Korean company in K-Song. He said it was very hard while the factories were closed. From now on, he says he hopes everything works out well and the factory zone comes back to life. In April, North Korea removed about 53,000 workers from the joint manufacturing effort. Their withdrawal resulted from military tensions with South Korea and the United States. South Korean companies say they lost about one billion dollars from the suspension of work at the factories. The industrial area produces cloth, watches, and parts for electronic products. After months of negotiations, the two Koreas reached a deal to reopen the area. They agreed to set up a joint committee to settle future problems. Officials from the two sides have been holding weekly meetings to discuss other details. The reopening is seen as the most important sign of warming relations between North and South Korea since the North carried out missile and nuclear tests. Choi Kyung-lim is South Korea's deputy minister of trade, industry, and energy. He told reporters in Seoul that the government hopes many Chinese companies will invest in K-Song. China is North Korea's closest ally. For VOA Learning English, I'm Alex Villareal.