North Korea and China resumed cross-border rail trade Monday for the first time in five months, according to South Korea’s unification ministry, as the two sides report no COVID-19 cases near the border following outbreaks earlier this year. 

“A cargo train crossed between North Korea and China today” for the first time since shutting down in late April, ministry spokesperson Cho Joong-hoon told reporters on Monday afternoon. “We believe the reopening [of the operation] follows the North and China completing negotiations.”