Heat wave scorches North Korea

North Koreans visit the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang on the 31st anniversary of the death of national founder Kim Il-sung, in this image published by the Korean Central Television, Tuesday. Yonhap

A heat wave is scorching North Korea, with daytime high temperatures in the capital expected to reach up to 34 degrees Celcius, state media reported Wednesday.

The morning low in Pyongyang was 25 degrees Celcius in the day, about 4 degrees Celcius higher than the average, and the day's high is forecast to reach 34 degrees Celcius, the Korean Central Broadcasting Station reported.

In South Korea, it is called a tropical night when the temperature does not fall below 25 degrees Celcius between 6:01 p.m. to 9 a.m. the following morning.

The broadcasting network forecast the day's highs may reach 35 degrees Celcius in Kaesong near the inter-Korean border, 34 degrees Celcius in the central city of Pyongsong and 33 degrees Celcius in the northwestern city of Sinuiju.

The average relative humidity may also reach 70 percent in the day, bringing sweltering weather, it said.

As the heat wave grips North Korea, the country is advising people to avoid outdoor activities and stay in the shade when outside.

"The organ hit hardest in the summer season is the hearth," the North's most widely read newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, said in its Wednesday edition, introducing certain herbs and berries as useful ingredients for strengthening the heart and reducing fatigue in summer.

Chronic energy shortages typically make it difficult for the general public in North Korea to use air conditioners, except in public institutions, public spaces or the homes of the elite class.

Amid limited access to energy, some people with deep pockets reportedly import solar panels from China to operate high-power fans on their own, while the use of air conditioners is considered a rarity in ordinary homes.