Diesel locomotives operate primarily in yards. Most steam locomotives, acquired from various sources shortly after World War II, still operate. Despite these improvements, rolling stock shortages are frequent. Maritime North Korean economic plans include upgrading and expanding several primary maritime ports and opening some of them to noncommunist shipping. North Korean merchant ships trade primarily among ports in North Korea and Japan, South Asia, the Mediterranean, and northern Europe.
Passenger ships operate between North Korea and Japan.
North Korean fishing ships operate relatively close to home waters. Air North Korean civil airlift remains limited. In addition to Sunan International Airfield, the Civil Air Administration operates a few domestic flight terminals throughout the country. The only scheduled international routes are between Sunan International Airfield and the Soviet Union and China. Although personnel and equipment assigned to civilian flights do not have a direct military function, they could offer limited support during wartime.