North Korean Media Recommends Traditional Foods to Combat Heat Wave

North Korea is currently experiencing a significant heat wave, with temperatures reaching up to 36.7 degrees Celsius (98.1 degrees Fahrenheit). This is the highest recorded temperature since weather data collection began in the country. The period, known locally as sambok or the dog days of summer, has prompted state media to focus on strategies to endure the intense heat.

Suggestions from North Korean media include the consumption of traditional dishes such as dog-meat soup and chicken broth. These recommendations align with cultural beliefs that these foods help people withstand summer’s heat. A health article in the ruling party’s newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, featured a doctor advising cooling foods like watermelon, cucumbers, and mung beans. Nutritious foods, including dog-meat soup, fish porridge, and red-bean porridge, were also recommended.

Dog-meat soup was highlighted in a separate feature, praised as a summertime staple. An old saying revived by the newspaper states that this soup can turn into medicine even if it spills on your foot during the heat of summer. The report included information about a national dog-meat cooking competition held earlier in the year.

The state-run Korean Central News Agency also celebrated samgyetang, a ginseng-stuffed chicken soup, noting that Pyongyang restaurants have become popular destinations for those seeking relief from the heat. Additionally, Korean Central Television has offered tips for health management during the extreme heat, suggesting hydration solutions and safe ways to exercise outdoors.

While North Korea has not officially reported any heat-related deaths, neighboring South Korea has noted more than 20 fatalities due to the heat wave.

In parallel with health advice, North Korean state media continues to portray leader Kim Jong Un as enduring the same harsh conditions as his people. Rodong Sinmun revisited an instance from 2013 when Kim inspected a construction site in the summer heat, resulting in his clothes being soaked with sweat. Despite the discomfort, Kim was quoted as saying, “even if the weather is unbearably hot, work that must be done for the people should be done.”

A similar narrative emerged from his 2018 visit to a prospective hot-spring resort site through challenging weather, including steep terrain and heavy rains. Reports have shown no current details of Kim’s activities during this heat wave.

State media broadcasts have also showcased crowded beaches and swimming facilities at the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, a major tourist project led by Kim. Furthermore, water parks in Pyongyang are reportedly filled with residents looking to escape the soaring temperatures.