Vinylon, also known as Vinalon, is a synthetic fiber produced from polyvinyl alcohol, using anthracite and limestone as raw materials. Vinylon was first developed in Japan in 1939 by Ichiro Sakurada, Ri Sung Gi, and H. Kawakami. Trial production began in 1954 and in 1961 the massive February 8 Vinylon Complex was built in Hamhung, North Korea. Vinylon's widespread usage in North Korea is often pointed to as an example of the implementation of the juche philosophy, and it is known as the juche fiber.
The P'yŏngbu Line is an electrified standard-gauge trunk line of the Korean State Railway running from P'yŏngyang to Kaesŏng in North Korea and further south across the DMZ to Seoul in South Korea; the name comes from the two (theoretical) termini of the line: P'yŏngyang and Pusan.
The Ch'ŏngnyŏn Ich'ŏn Line is an electrified standard-gauge secondary mainline of the Korean State Railway running from P'yŏngsan on the P'yŏngbu Line to Sep'o on the Kangwŏn Line. The 141.3 km (87.8 mi) line is the southernmost of the three east-west transversal mainlines in North Korea.
The P'yŏngnam Line is an electrified standard-gauge trunk line of the Korean State Railway in North Korea, linking P'yŏngyang with the port city of Namp'o and the hot springs at P'yŏngnam Onch'ŏn. The length of the line is 89.9 km (55.9 mi).
Hamhŭng Station is a railway station in Yŏkchŏn 1-dong, Sŏngch'ŏngang-guyŏk, Hamhŭng city, South Hamgyŏng province, North Korea, located on the P'yŏngra Line of the Korean State Railway; it is also the starting point of the Sinhŭng Line and the Sŏho Line. A locomotive depot is located here, and there are spurs to the Hamhŭng Knitwear Factory and the Paekkŭmsan Combined Foodstuffs Factory in Haebit-tong, Sŏngch'ŏngang-guyŏk.
The Hwanghae Ch'ŏngnyŏn Line is an electrified standard-gauge secondary line of the Korean State Railway in the North and South Hwanghae provinces of North Korea, running from Sariwŏn to Haeju. It connects to the P'yŏngbu Line at Sariwŏn, to the Ŭnnyul Line at Ŭnp'a, to the Paech'ŏn Line at Changbang, and to the Ongjin Line at Haeju. It plays an important role in the transportation of freight and passengers in North and South Hwanghae provinces, serving important mining and industrial areas, as well as one of the DPRK's most important ports for foreign trade.
The P'yŏngdŏk Line is an electrified standard-gauge trunk line of the Korean State Railway in North Korea running from Taedonggang Station in P'yŏngyang, where it connects to the P'yŏngbu, P'yŏngnam, P'yŏngra and P'yŏngŭi Lines, to Kujang, where it connects to the Manp'o and Ch'ŏngnyŏn P'arwŏn Lines. The total length of the line is 192.3 km (119.5 mi).
The Sinhŭng Line is an electrified 762 mm narrow gauge railway line of the Korean State Railway in South Hamgyŏng Province, North Korea, running from Hamhŭng (Hamhŭng-si) to Pujŏnhoban (Pujŏn-gun) on Lake Pujŏn via Sinhŭng (Sinhŭng-gun).
The Changjin Line is an electrified narrow gauge line of the North Korean State Railway running from Yŏnggwang on the Sinhŭng Line to Sasu on Lake Changjin. There is a 7.4 km cable-hauled section between Samgo and Hwangch'oryong; between Pojang and Hwangch'oryong the grade reaches 370‰.
The Manp'o Line is an electrified standard-gauge trunk line of the North Korean State Railway running from Sunch'ŏn on the P'yŏngra Line to Manp'o on the Pukpu Line. The line continues on from Manp'o to Ji'an, China.
The Musan Line is an electrified standard-gauge secondary trunk line of the Korean State Railway in Musan and Puryŏng counties, North Hamgyŏng Province, North Korea, running from Komusan on the Hambuk Line to Musan, where it connects to the narrow-gauge Paengmu Line. The section from Komusan to Sinch'am is double tracked.
The Kangwŏn Line is a 145.8 km (90.6 mi) electrified standard-gauge trunk line of the Korean State Railway of North Korea, connecting Kowŏn on the P'yŏngra Line to P'yŏnggang, providing an east–west connection between the P'yŏngra and Ch'ŏngnyŏn Ich'ŏn lines.
Sŏhamhŭng Station is a railway station in Sŏngch'ŏngang-guyŏk, Hamhŭng city, South Hamgyŏng province, North Korea, on the Sŏho Line of the Korean State Railway. Locomotive and rolling stock maintenance facilities for the narrow gauge equipment used on the line are located here.
Sŏho Station is a railway station in Sŏho 2-dong, Hŭngnam-guyŏk, Hamhŭng city, South Hamgyŏng province, North Korea on the P'yŏngra Line of the Korean State Railway; it is also one of the southern termini of the Sŏho Line.
The Kangan Line, also spelled Kang'an Line, is a non-electrified standard-gauge freight-only secondary line of the Korean State Railway located entirely within Sinŭiju-si, North P'yŏngan Province, North Korea, running from Sinŭiju on the P'yŏngŭi Line to Kang'an.
The Namhŭng Line is an electrified standard-gauge secondary line of the Korean State Railway in South P'yŏngan Province, North Korea, running from Maengjungri on the P'yŏngŭi Line to Namhŭng.
