The North Korea heatwave crisis is causing severe losses for farmers as record-breaking temperatures grip the Korean Peninsula. The extreme heat has led to mass livestock deaths, affecting both large farms and small household operations.
In North Pyongan province, one farm in Tasa village, Yomju county, lost over half of its 30 pigs to the heat. Farmers report that pigs and chickens are dying rapidly, while ducks fare better due to access to water. The North Korea heatwave crisis is worsened by cramped sheds with poor ventilation and no climate control, leaving animals vulnerable.
Farmers have pleaded with local power authorities for priority electricity supply. They are placing ice packs in sheds and spraying animals with water in desperate attempts to save them. Many see this as the only way to preserve their remaining stock and rebuild later.
Even small-scale farmers raising a few animals have experienced losses, though free-range livestock can seek shade or water, reducing fatalities. Larger farms, however, are facing the heaviest toll as confined animals suffer the most in the North Korea heatwave crisis.
In some areas, pig sheds are cooled by electric fans, which farmers cannot afford to use for themselves. This highlights the critical importance of livestock as the primary wealth source for many rural families.
The situation has led to grim humor among locals, with some saying that “humans have become the servants, and pigs and chickens the masters” during this heatwave. Farmers remain determined to protect what animals they have left, knowing their survival is tied to the survival of their livestock.
The ongoing North Korea heatwave crisis underscores the vulnerability of the country’s agriculture to climate extremes. Without urgent solutions, farmers may face long-term setbacks that threaten food security and rural livelihoods.
