North Korea recommends hot foods to combat extreme summer heat

As the Korean Peninsula faces extreme summer heat with temperatures reaching up to 40 degrees Celsius, North Korean state media has issued dietary recommendations to combat the heat.

According to the state news agency KCNA and the newspaper Rodong Sinmun, traditional warm dishes are recommended rather than light, cold foods. Specific suggestions include Samgyetang, a traditional ginseng chicken soup, and dog meat soup, which is cited as being beneficial for nutrient supply.

KCNA specifically highlighted ginseng from the border city of Kaesong, claiming it possesses ‘unparalleled medicinal effects’ due to the region's unique soil, water quality, and cultivation methods. These recommendations are rooted in the cultural tradition that consuming hot foods during the hottest periods of summer is a health-promoting custom.