When an active region emerges, its magnetic field recon- nects with the preexisting field. This localized reconnec- tion may affect magnetic connectivity far away from the emerging region. In some cases, the entire corona read- justs its magnetic connectivity because of changes intro- duced by the emerging flux. We propose that such large- scale reconnection, triggered by localized changes in the magnetic connectivity, may play a role in coronal heating. To demonstrate the validity of this mechanism, we study the evolution of an emerging active region NOAA 8131. Using SoHO/MDI full disk magnetograms and Yohkoh/SXT data, we show that as the magnetic field emerges the surrounding corona increases its brightness and temperature. The coronal enhancement in brightness consists of two components: loop-like structures and a diffuse "cloud." Several days later, SXT data show dis- tinct loops connecting the fully developed active region 8131 with magnetic flux outside the area of emergence. We interpret these observations as a signature of coronal heating due to a large-scale reconnection process.