Until 2013, it was a joint venture in Nampo between Pyonghwa Motors of Seoul (South Korea), a company owned by Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church, and the North Korean Ryonbong General Corp.

[4] Erik van Ingen Schenau, author of the book Automobiles Made in North Korea, has estimated the company's total production in 2005 at not more than around 400 units.

[citation needed] In 2002, around $55 million was set aside to build the factory,[6][8] with which the first production line in Nampo was completed and the first Hwiparam was produced.

[15][16] The Junma bears a strong resemblance to SsangYong cars, specifically the Chairman, which are favored by North Korean government officials.

[17] In 2006, Pyeonghwa reached an agreement with Chinese manufacturer Brilliance China Auto to assemble its Jinbei Haise vans, which are based on an old version of the Toyota HiAce.

A series of billboards and TV commercials have been made in an effort to show residents that their country is able to produce products such as motor vehicles.