North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reportedly encouraged citizens to consume dog meat soup as part of efforts to cope with the country’s ongoing record-breaking heatwave, which has pushed temperatures above 40°C.
The recommendation was published by North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, which cited medical advice from a senior doctor at Pyongyang General Hospital on how people can stay healthy during the extreme weather.
According to the report, prolonged exposure to intense heat can worsen conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hyperthyroidism by increasing the risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
While the newspaper also advised people to eat cooling foods like watermelon and cucumbers, it listed dog meat soup and fish porridge among the highly nutritious meals recommended for enduring the severe heat.
Dog meat soup, locally known as dangogi guk, has traditionally been promoted by North Korean authorities as a health-boosting dish, although many residents reportedly cannot afford it.
The guidance comes as North Korea experiences one of its hottest periods in recent years, with temperatures exceeding 40°C in some areas. Pyongyang has also recorded consecutive tropical nights, with temperatures remaining above 25°C even after sunset.
The extreme weather has also affected neighbouring South Korea, where a prolonged heatwave has reportedly claimed 19 lives, prompting President Lee Jae Myung to direct authorities to strengthen support for vulnerable residents.
