Kim Jong-un's Recipe for Dog Meat to Keep Warm

Dog meat on the table to beat the heat: this is Kim Jong-un's "diet" to combat the heat. In a summer of record-breaking temperatures even in North Korea, Pyongyang is once again promoting the consumption of "sweet meat," as dog meat is known on the peninsula, considered a traditional remedy and part of the country's "cultural heritage." 

The Workers' Party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, published a series of tips for protecting oneself from the heat wave and provided first aid instructions for ailments related to high temperatures, suggesting, among the "highly nutritious" foods, also "dog meat soup", along with fish porridge and red bean porridge. 

The dish, known domestically as dangogi guk, is a tradition that North Korean authorities—at the urging of Kim Jong-un—have proudly preserved and promoted, even distinguishing themselves from neighboring South Korea, where a law was passed in 2024 banning the breeding, slaughter, distribution, and sale of dogs for human consumption, with a three-year transition period ending in February 2027. 

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Interviewed by Rodong Sinmun, a doctor from Pyongyang General Hospital warned that "cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hyperthyroidism can be aggravated by heat exhaustion and heatstroke." Dangogi guk has been promoted by North Korean authorities for decades as a food with beneficial properties, especially on hot days. "Dangogi is popular in the North, but it is an expensive food," Ri Chol, a former North Korean diplomat, explained to This Week in Asia, adding that "it is especially consumed on the hottest summer days to help prevent heat exhaustion." Pyongyang has also promoted and helped spread the dish through specialized restaurants and annual cooking competitions, presenting it as part of the national tradition and an ideal food for coping with the summer season. 

Both Koreas are currently experiencing an exceptional heatwave: North Korea is experiencing tropical nights and temperatures are expected to reach 35-40 degrees Celsius in several areas, while South Korea has seen temperatures exceed 40 degrees Celsius in some parts of the southeast. According to meteorologists, Typhoon Dolphin, heading toward Japan, could even contribute to the high temperatures, while two powerful "heat domes" surrounding the Korean Peninsula could prevent the weather system from bringing relief. 

(Adnkronos)