North Korea Faces Heat Wave with Traditional Remedies

Seoul, South Korea — A heat wave is affecting the Korean Peninsula, prompting North Korean state media to suggest traditional remedies, including dog-meat soup and chicken broth, as relief options. These suggestions come amidst portrayals of Kim Jong Un as a leader enduring harsh conditions alongside the populace.

The temperature has reached 36.7 degrees Celsius (98.1 degrees Fahrenheit), the highest on record in the country. The heat coincides with what is locally known as sambok, or the dog days of summer. Under these conditions, North Korean media has focused on this typically hot period.

Among the notable suggestions is dog-meat soup, based on traditional beliefs about its efficacy against summer heat.

On August 2, the ruling party newspaper Rodong Sinmun featured health advice from a Pyongyang General Hospital doctor, recommending cooling foods like watermelon, cucumbers, and mung beans, along with “nutritious foods” such as dog-meat soup, fish porridge, and red-bean porridge. Another article in the paper highlighted dog-meat soup as a traditional summer dish, quoting an old saying that it supposedly acts as medicine even if spilled on one’s foot during the dog days.

Earlier this year, a national dog-meat cooking competition took place, emphasizing the dish’s cultural significance. Additionally, the state-run Korean Central News Agency praised samgyetang, a chicken soup with ginseng and jujubes, as a heat remedy popular in Pyongyang restaurants.

Korean Central Television has provided guidance on health management during the extreme heat. Their broadcasts include hydration advice and tips for swimming and outdoor exercise. While North Korea has not reported any heat-related fatalities, neighboring South Korea has documented more than 20 heat-related deaths.

North Korean media also highlights Kim Jong Un’s commitment to facing the same weather challenges as the general population. Recent articles revisited instances like a 2013 summer construction site inspection, where Kim’s clothing became drenched in sweat. When advised against such trips, Kim reportedly stated that essential work for the people must continue, regardless of the heat.

Another incident from 2018 detailed Kim traversing challenging terrain and a downpour to locate a hot-spring resort site. Further accounts showed him inspecting a pickled seafood factory amid high temperatures, focusing on food quality and hygiene in the heat.

Currently, state media have not disclosed Kim’s actions during the present heat wave. Meanwhile, television stations have depicted the public enjoying beaches and swimming pools at the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, a prominent east coast tourism project initiated by Kim. Pyongyang’s water parks are also reportedly busy with visitors escaping the heat.