North Korea recommends people drink dog soup

North Korea has advised its citizens to eat dog and chicken soup to ward off the scorching heat, Reuters reported.

The advice, broadcast on state media, came after temperatures in the country hit 36.7 degrees Celsius on August 6, the highest temperature ever recorded in North Korea since weather records began.

The ruling Workers' Party of Korea's Rodong Sinmun newspaper published a heat-related diet recommendation from a doctor at Pyongyang General Hospital on August 2. It recommended cooling foods, including watermelon, cucumbers and mung beans, as well as "nutritious foods" such as dog soup, fish and red bean porridge.

The newspaper highlighted dog meat soup as a traditional summer dish, writing, "Even if dog meat soup spills on your feet on hot summer days, it will be a cure."

North Korea also held a national dog meat cooking competition in early 2016. On August 5, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) also praised chicken soup made with ginseng, rice, and chilonji.

Korean Central Television has been advising people to take care of their health during the heat wave, drinking more water, swimming, and exercising outdoors. North Korea has not reported any deaths from the heat. In neighboring South Korea, more than 20 people have died from the heat. The country recorded its highest temperature since 1904, when weather observations began, with temperatures reaching 42.5 degrees Celsius on August 2.