North Korea advises its citizens to consume dog meat to combat the heat

North Korea has urged its citizens to consume dog meat soup in an effort to mitigate the effects of a heatwave sweeping the Korean Peninsula, according to The Independent. State media portrayed Kim Jong Un as a leader enduring harsh conditions alongside his people, promoting a range of foods and drinks, including dog meat soup and chicken broth, as means to adapt to the significant rise in temperatures. Official television reported that temperatures reached 36.7 degrees Celsius, the highest recorded in the country since the beginning of meteorological records. State media have given unprecedented attention to the hot summer weeks, locally known as “Sambok” or “Dog Days of Summer,” intensifying coverage of health guidelines related to this period. Among the most notable recommendations was the call to eat dog meat soup, based on a common traditional belief that it helps the body withstand summer heat. Rodong Sinmun, the mouthpiece of the ruling party, quoted a doctor at Pyongyang General Hospital recommending cooling foods such as watermelon, cucumber, and green beans, alongside “nutritious foods” that included dog meat soup, fish paste, and red bean paste. The newspaper also dedicated a separate article to dog meat soup, describing it as a traditional summer dish and citing an old proverb: “Even if dog meat soup spills on your foot during the hot summer days, it becomes medicine,” referring to the entrenched belief in its benefits during this time of year. The report also noted the organization of a national dog meat cooking competition earlier this year, a step reflecting the continued promotion of the dish as part of the traditional culinary heritage. State television broadcast educational programs this week on maintaining health during severe heatwaves, advising increased consumption of hydrating beverages and engaging in swimming and outdoor sports. North Korea has not released any data on heat-related deaths, while neighboring South Korea announced more than 20 fatalities linked to the heatwave. Alongside these health guidelines, state media repeatedly returned to their usual propaganda narrative, focusing on portraying Leader Kim Jong Un as ready to endure the same climatic conditions faced by citizens. In this context, Rodong Sinmun recently highlighted a 2013 inspection tour Kim conducted at a construction site during the summer, noting that his clothes were soaked with sweat during the visit. The report added that an official at the time advised Kim to avoid such tours during the peak of summer, to which he replied, “Even if the weather is unbearably hot, necessary work to serve the people must be completed.”