Why North Koreans Are Racing Against the Sun

Scorching Heat Grips the North

North Korea has reported daytime highs above 35 degrees and humidity soaring past 70 percent turning rice paddies into steam baths and prompting the national weather bureau to warn of worsening crop stress under stifling conditions citizens report sleeping outdoors at night to find cooler air markets open later into the evening to avoid the blaze
The sight of the leader inspecting fish raised in rice paddies illustrates how desperate measures are taken to secure food supplies under the burning sun

Innovative Farming Methods Under Fire

Facing threats to its rice harvest the government has emphasized adjusting water temperature in paddy fields by deepening irrigation channels and rotating water to keep root zones below 30 degrees and has championed paddy fish farming that blends rice and carp breeding into an organic system farmers report yields that officials claim beat expectations though external verification remains scarce
This method inspired fresh hope as military units now cultivate fish alongside rice in five hectare plots aiming to harvest thousands of tons of grain and hundreds of tons of fish

Grass Cutting for Survival

Beyond freezing hot water tactics villagers are mobilized to mow vast expanses of field grass that is dried into compost to enrich soils deprived of fertilizer under sanctions ditch clearing and weed removal have become patriotic duties with young soldiers and community volunteers racing against the midday heat to secure vital organic nutrients for next season farm productivity hinges on these grassroots efforts

Community Voices and Cultural Insights

Social media and Naver blogs buzz with stories of North Korean residents improvising with handheld fans makeshift sprinklers and communal night markets under dim lights to beat the heat shared posts celebrate the resilience of rural families even as bloggers caution of rising heatstroke incidents and call for better shade and water access
For outsiders understanding the deep significance of agriculture underlines why every stalk of rice and every blade of grass carries weight far beyond a simple crop it is woven into survival culture and social cohesion