Recently, North Korean state television has given the citizens a piece of advice on coping with the heat wave that has got everyone into a fit of laughter: just open up a liter of beer!
As part of a severe period of heat in the Korean Peninsula, where the temperature reached 40 degrees Celsius, a program on Korean Central Television called “One liter of beer is an effective health drink for getting rid of heat.” This piece of advice was mentioned in an August 6, 2026 broadcast by NK News, which also stated that after consuming beer, water and weak tea should be consumed.
The story gained traction on the Internet when NK News reported on the video towards mid-August. Frosty beer glasses were associated with the North Korean flag to create an interesting story regarding this strange KCTV recommendation for beer. The secondary news outlets like Dexerto echoed the same information without any contradiction.
The wider context of North Korea heat wave 2026 is evident as well. The state media reported about several tropical nights in Pyongyang (night temperatures above 25°C) as well as high temperatures reaching 39°C or more in some regions. This heat wave advice included watermelon, cucumbers, green beans, dog meat soup, fish porridge, and red bean porridge.
Beer is domestically produced in North Korea (Taedonggang and other brands), so the suggestion is not completely out of left field for local audiences. Still, access remains limited for many citizens.
The strangest viral headline contains a real broadcast detail. KCTV did float the one-liter beer idea. What remains less settled is how strictly the advice was meant, how widely it was followed, and how much the online retelling flattened the full list of cooling suggestions. In a country where state television shapes the public conversation, even an odd health tip can travel far especially when the rest of the world finds it hard to believe.
