Kathrine Frich
The Korean Peninsula is currently suffering through a severe heatwave.
When summer temperatures reach dangerous levels, people look for any way to cool down.
Authorities usually recommend staying indoors and drinking plenty of water. But in one isolated nation, the official advice takes a highly unusual culinary turn.
A traditional remedy
The Korean Peninsula is currently suffering through a severe heatwave. According to Reuters cited by Digi24, state television reported temperatures reaching 36.7 degrees Celsius, marking the highest level since national records began.
To help citizens cope during the hottest weeks of the year, North Korean state media has started promoting a range of summer dishes. Agerpres reported that the ruling party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, dedicated a special article to a specific traditional meal.
The publication heavily promoted dog meat soup as a way to beat the high temperatures. It even cited an old proverb to convince readers of the purported health benefits.
The ancient saying claims that “even if it spills on your leg on hot days, dog meat soup becomes a cure,” according to the Romanian outlet Digi24.
Leading by example
Alongside dietary suggestions, state media is using the weather to boost the image of the country’s leadership. Propaganda outlets have reminded citizens that Kim Jong Un regularly faces harsh conditions right beside them.
Reuters noted that newspapers recently republished stories about the leader inspecting construction sites during previous summer heatwaves. They detailed how his clothes were completely soaked with sweat.
When officials allegedly asked him to avoid such trips back in 2013, he refused.
“Even if the weather is unbearably hot, the work for the people must be completed,” Kim Jong Un said, according to the official report.
Looking for relief
While the leadership focuses on historical propaganda, ordinary citizens are seeking practical ways to cool off. The state news agency KCNA reported that restaurants serving a popular chicken and ginseng soup are currently packed.
Official television channels have also broadcast footage of large crowds flocking to beaches and water parks across Pyongyang. People are desperately trying to find some relief from the blazing sun.
South Korea has already recorded more than 20 heat-related deaths, according to AP. Meanwhile, authorities in the North have not released any official mortality figures for the ongoing weather crisis, leaving the true human cost completely unknown.
Sources: Reuters, Agerpres, Digi24, AP, KCNA
