Eat dog meat, get relief from the heat… North Korean government advises citizens
New Delhi : “Eat dog meat to get relief from the heat.” North Korea has given such advice to its citizens. To combat extreme heat, North Korea’s state media has recommended that people consume dog meat soup. In fact, the country is currently facing intense heat, with temperatures breaking records in several regions. In such a situation, North Korea has revived its old efforts to promote this controversial food. This information has been reported by the Hong Kong-based newspaper South China Morning Post (SCMP).
According to the SCMP report, the ruling Workers’ Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun published a health advisory on Sunday. It included information on how to avoid heatwaves and treat heat-related illnesses. In an interview with a senior doctor from Pyongyang General Hospital, the newspaper warned that heat exhaustion and heat-related illnesses could lead to complications such as heart attacks, diabetes, and hyperthyroidism.
Tips to consume dog meat soup…
The newspaper advised eating cooling foods such as watermelon, mung beans, and cucumbers, along with “highly nutritious foods” like dog meat soup, fish porridge, and red bean porridge. Dog meat soup is locally known as “dangogi guk” (sweet meat soup). The North Korean government has long promoted it as a traditional health tonic, although it is an expensive dish that many ordinary citizens cannot afford.
Dog meat soup popular in North Korea…
Dangogi is popular in North Korea, but it is considered costly, said former North Korean diplomat Ri Chol in This Week in Asia. He noted that it is commonly eaten during summer to prevent fatigue caused by heat. Pyongyang has been promoting dangogi for decades, even building luxury restaurants along the Taedong River and registering regional recipes as part of cultural heritage.
Ban on dog meat in South Korea…
In contrast, North Korea even organizes annual cooking competitions in the capital to promote dog meat as a food and as a way to cope with heat. This approach is completely different from South Korea, which in 2024 introduced a major law banning the breeding, slaughter, distribution, and sale of dogs for human consumption.
