[5][6] Structural engineering of the Metro was completed by North Korea, with rolling stock and related electronic equipment imported from China.

[11] Construction of the metro network started in 1965, and stations were opened between 1969 and 1972 by Supreme Leader Kim Il Sung.

According to NK News sources, a construction accident in 1971 killed tens if not hundreds of laborers, forcing the rerouting of the metro so it would not cross the Taedong River.

Due to the depth of the metro and the lack of outside segments, its stations can double as bomb shelters, with blast doors in place at hallways.

The Porta Alpina railway station, located above the Gotthard Base Tunnel in Switzerland, was supposed to be 800 m (2,600 ft) underground, but the project was indefinitely shelved in 2012.

[23] In 2012, Korean Central Television released renders of a new station bearing the name Mangyongdae displayed at the Pyongyang Architectural Festival.

At the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, it was announced to push forward on the updating and renovation of the Pyongyang Metro, along with the production of new-type subway trains.

[30] The Pyongyang Metro is the cheapest in the world to ride, at only five North Korean won (worth half of a US cent) per ticket.

[37] Some sources claim that large military installations are connected to the stations,[38] and also that there exist secret lines solely for government use.

The map of the Hyŏksin line shows two additional stations after Kwangbok: Yŏngung (영웅) and Ch'ilgol (칠골), both of them reportedly under development.

The map of the Chollima Line, on the other hand, shows four additional stations, two at each end of the line—Ryŏnmot (련못), Sŏp'o (서포), Ch'ŏngch'un (청춘) and Man'gyŏngdae (만경대)—also planned or under development.

[33] However, the current tunnel exit does not allow for this, as this segment does not have third rail electrification, and is locomotive hauled by the GKD5B shunters and would require negotiating a switchback.

[41] When operations on the Metro started in the 1970s, newly built DK4 passenger cars were used, made for North Korea by the Chinese firm Changchun Railway Vehicles.

[48] However, in the Korean Central News Agency article summarising the eighty day campaign, there was no mention of any new vehicles being produced.

[49] Previously, it was reported that a 4-door set was to be manufactured to mainly run on the Hyoksin line, to be named Underground Electric Vehicle No.

[47] Another news report stated that Kim Chong-tae Locomotive Works was organising the serial production of the Underground Electric Vehicle Type 1 for the 80 day campaign and mentioned the construction of the car body.

Some units can be still seen stored in the metro depot, which are occasionally in service as vintage trains on special occasions and public holidays.

[citation needed] (possibly Resistor Control) Rode by Kim Jong Il in 1974 but is no longer in service and said to be stored in the Pyongyang Metro museum.

[64] As of 2014[update], it is possible for tourists on special Public Transport Tours to take metro rides through both lines, including visits to all stations.

[66] The previously limited tourist access gave rise to a conspiracy theory that the metro was purely for show.

A large portion of the collection is related to President Kim Il Sung providing "on-the-spot guidance" to the workers constructing the system.