The first factory in the Kaesong Industrial Zone (KIZ) of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) was opened Wednesday, marking the official launch of the industrial zone built under a North-South cooperation agreement.

The South Korean "Living Art" kitchen utensils-making factory with a floor space of more than 3,300 sq. meters is located in the first-phase of the 3.3 sq. kilometer KIZ development area, designed to act as a model for North-South economic cooperation.

The KIZ, located at the border city of Kaesong, was created as a trial project for economic cooperation between the two Koreas.

Hyon Jong-un, chairwoman of Hyundai Asan of South Korea, said at the opening that the event "would record a page in history as it demonstrated the appearance of the united Korean nation, its strength guided by the spirit of the June 15 Joint Declaration."

She called for further assistance and cooperation so that the construction of the zone, which is still underway, would proceed at a faster pace.

Ju Tong-chan, director of the DPRK's General Bureau for Central Guidance to the Development of the Special Zone, also stressed the need to boost inter-Korean economic cooperation and to accelerate the construction of the zone.

Some 400 guests from South Korea, including South Korean Minister of Unification Jong Dong-young, attended the ceremony.