North Korea Reopens Shared Industrial Complex

Shut down facility used with South Koreans four months ago

North Korea said Wednesday that it would reopen the shuttered Kaesong industrial complex, a rare symbol of cooperation with South Korea whose operations were shut down by the North four months ago amid mounting tensions between the sworn enemies.

The North Korean government also proposed new talks with the South, to start next week, on the future of the complex, whose 53,000 North Korean workers were employed by South Korean companies. The North also pledged to guarantee the safety of South Korean managers who run the complex.