As summer heat fades, North Korean people flock to parks in evenings

As the end of the summer heat approaches, North Korean citizens are increasingly visiting parks, squares, and riverbanks in the evenings. The relief of the cooler weather has brought a noticeable brightening to the mood among the populace, despite the lack of improvements in living conditions.

In early September, the trend of evening park visits began to emerge as the summer heat started to lessen. North Korean authorities have promoted regional development and improvements to people's livelihoods, leading to the construction of parks under these initiatives. These parks have now become integral parts of the cultural and leisure life for North Korean people, who gather for activities such as music, dancing, and games.

During the evenings, it is common to see people of all ages relaxing on mats in the parks, playing traditional Korean games like jump rope, jegichagi, and badminton. The lively atmosphere in the parks, combined with the cooler weather, has led many to express that they now feel able to "breathe" and "live" again. Despite the ongoing challenges with food supplies and income stagnation, this reprieve from the heat has provided significant comfort to the people.

The rush of citizens to the parks once the weather cooled reveals the severity of this summer's heat wave, which left most North Koreans without access to electric fans or air conditioning due to consistent electricity shortages. People had to endure the heat and tropical nights without any cooling equipment, making the nightly rest a struggle.

Now that the cooler mornings and evenings have continued, North Koreans who had limited opportunities to rest during the heat are returning to the parks. The atmosphere in these areas is livelier than usual, as those who struggled with the heat find enjoyment in the cool breeze and socializing with others. Even though they know that cold weather will return, people are embracing the pleasant weather while it lasts, holding their children's hands and enjoying the simple pleasures of being outdoors.