Traditional Remedies and Systemic Fragility: North Korea's Struggle Against Record Heatwaves

The Korean Peninsula is currently enduring a punishing summer, as record-breaking temperatures sweep across the region, pushing the resilience of its inhabitants to the limit. In North Korea, the heat has reached critical levels, with official reports indicating that temperatures in multiple provinces have surged past the 40-degree Celsius mark. Even the capital, Pyongyang, has seen stifling peaks, recently recording a high of 36.7°C. In the face of this climatic onslaught, the North Korean government has turned to an unconventional strategy: the promotion of traditional dietary habits to keep the populace afloat.

In a rare move, state-controlled media outlets have begun publishing specific 'cooling recipes' intended to help citizens survive the oppressive heat. The *Rodong Sinmun*, a primary state newspaper, recently highlighted the benefits of dog meat soup, quoting medical professionals who claim the dish is essential for replenishing vital nutrients lost during extreme heat. Simultaneously, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) has advocated for the consumption of Samgyetang, a traditional ginseng chicken soup made with glutinous rice and red dates. This recommendation is rooted in the ancient philosophy of 'fighting heat with heat,' a traditional wellness practice particularly associated with the Kaesong region. The state media went as far as to praise the unique soil and water quality of Kaesong, claiming that the ginseng produced there possesses medicinal properties that are unmatched globally.

This cultural approach to heat management stands in stark contrast to the situation in South Korea. While both nations are suffering under the same atmospheric conditions—with South Korea recording a staggering peak of 42.5°C and reporting 23 heat-related fatalities—their societal responses differ wildly. In the South, the consumption of dog meat is rapidly becoming a relic of the past, with legislation expected to officially ban the practice by February 2027. While the South manages the heat through advanced infrastructure and medical interventions, the North relies heavily on traditional lore and dietary supplements.

However, experts suggest that the sudden emphasis on traditional foods by the North Korean state is a symptom of a much larger crisis. Lee Min-young, a researcher at the Stimson Center, points out that recent state media directives focusing on the stabilization of water and electricity supplies indicate that the country's basic infrastructure is under immense strain. In a modernized society, heatwaves are managed with air conditioning and reliable refrigeration; in North Korea, the lack of a stable power grid means that the majority of the population has no means of artificial cooling. When the state suggests a specific soup to combat the heat, it is often because they have no other systemic tools to offer.

Adding to the danger is the precarious health of the general population. According to estimates provided by the United Nations World Food Programme, approximately 40% of the North Korean population suffers from chronic malnutrition. This creates a deadly synergy with the heatwave: a body lacking essential nutrients is significantly less capable of regulating its internal temperature and resisting the physiological stress induced by extreme heat. For these vulnerable groups, a dish of ginseng soup is a meager defense against a systemic humanitarian risk.

Ultimately, the current heatwave serves as a magnifying glass, exposing the vast disparity between the two Koreas. While one side deals with the tragedy of individual heat-stroke deaths, the other faces a structural vulnerability where climate change intersects with food insecurity and failing infrastructure, leaving millions at the mercy of a rising thermometer.