As the Korean Peninsula endures a severe heat wave, North Korean state media promotes traditional cooling foods and highlights leader Kim Jong Un’s resilience. Temperatures soared to 36.7 degrees Celsius (98.1 degrees Fahrenheit), the highest recorded in North Korea’s history.
The period, known locally as sambok, or the dog days of summer, has prompted unusual media focus. Among the traditional advice is the consumption of dog-meat soup, believed to help combat the summer heat. The Rodong Sinmun newspaper cited a Pyongyang General Hospital doctor, recommending foods like watermelon, cucumbers, mung beans, and dog-meat soup for their cooling properties. Additional nutritious options include fish porridge and red-bean porridge.
A separate feature in the newspaper described dog-meat soup as a traditional summer dish, quoting an old saying that even spilled dog-meat soup on one’s foot in summer becomes medicinal. Earlier in the year, a national dog-meat cooking competition was held, reflecting its cultural importance.
The state Korean Central News Agency praised samgyetang, a chicken soup made with ginseng, glutinous rice, and jujubes, noting its popularity among customers in Pyongyang seeking to beat the heat. Korean Central Television broadcasts advice on hydration, swimming, and outdoor exercise to manage health during extreme temperatures.
While no heat-related deaths have been reported in North Korea, neighboring South Korea has recorded over 20 fatalities due to the heat wave.
State media frequently reaffirms a propaganda narrative about Kim Jong Un enduring harsh weather conditions alongside his people. The Rodong Sinmun revisited Kim’s 2013 inspection of a construction site, highlighting his sweat-soaked effort in sweltering heat. Kim reportedly insisted on the necessity of work despite heat challenges.
Another article recounted Kim’s 2018 trek through mountainous terrain and heavy rain for a suitable hot-spring resort site. The media also recalled Kim’s attentiveness to food quality during a visit to a pickled seafood factory in extreme heat.
Current activities of Kim during the heat wave remain unreported. However, state television has shown crowded beaches and swimming pools at the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, a prominent East Coast tourism development endorsed by Kim. Reports also indicate that Pyongyang’s water parks are bustling with visitors seeking relief from the current heat conditions.
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