North Korea is Sweltering! Pyongyang Hits 36°C, Mother and Daughter Sleeping Outdoors in Hamhung Hit and Killed by Car, Outdoor Sleeping Banned

North Korea is Sweltering! Pyongyang Hits 36°C, Mother and Daughter Sleeping Outdoors in Hamhung Hit and Killed by Car, Outdoor Sleeping Banned
This year brings another scorching summer. South Korea has seen nearly half of July's days qualify as heat wave days (33°C or above), with record-breaking temperatures continuing daily. North Korea is also experiencing consecutive days above 30°C. While it's somewhat cooler than South Korea, ordinary households have virtually no air conditioning. As a result, people are spending sleepless nights on public squares or rooftops. In Hamhung, South Hamgyong Province, a tragic incident occurred when a mother and daughter sleeping outside to escape the heat were struck and killed by a vehicle, leading to a ban on outdoor sleeping, according to a reporting partner in Hyesan, Ryanggang Province, in early August. (HONG Mari / KANG Ji-won)

◆ 12-Year-Old Girl and Mother Die While Sleeping Outside

According to the reporting partner, a tragic incident was reported at meetings of the Hyesan People's Unit and Women's Union.

"A 12-year-old girl and her mother sleeping in the square in front of Hamhung Station were struck and killed by a car."

Air conditioning in North Korea is virtually nonexistent except among the privileged class and nouveau riche. Even when electric fans are available, poor electricity supply often makes them unusable. This has led to widespread reports from reporting partners, continuing from last year, of people sleeping on public sports fields, at stations, and on rooftops of homes or warehouses.
Regarding the crackdown following the fatal accident, the reporting partner stated:

"Sleeping in public places at night has been completely banned. There was an announcement that sleeping on streets or in public places, or gathering to drink at night, will result in three days of unpaid forced labor."

◆ Pyongyang Records High of 36°C, Nights Reach Tropical Levels

According to Korean Central Television broadcast on August 3, temperatures nationwide continue to exceed 30°C, with Pyongyang recording a high of 36°C on July 29. On August 4, maximum temperatures reached 33°C in both Pyongyang and Hamhung, while minimum temperatures were 24°C in Pyongyang and 23°C in Hamhung—nearly tropical night levels.

Concerns grow over how North Korean residents, lacking cooling systems, will endure the summer heat.

※ ASIAPRESS communicates with its reporting partners through Chinese cell phones smuggled into North Korea.

↓ How was it last year? ↓
＜Inside N. Korea＞Heatwave Grips North Korea: Residents Sleep Outdoors Amid Lack of Air Conditioning and Power Shortages