After North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended an event for the Choe Hyon destroyer early this month, around two dozen sailors reported severe stomach problems, Daily NK has learned.
“A group of sailors who accompanied Kim Jong Un during an event on the Choe Hyon destroyer were treated to a gourmet meal. Afterward, the sailors were taken to the infirmary because of food poisoning symptoms including stomach pain, diarrhea and high fever. The military was put on temporary emergency footing as a result,” a source in South Pyongan Province told Daily NK recently.
According to the source, officers and sailors on long tours of duty were served a lavish meal of stir-fried pork and seasoned fried chicken by the Central Committee on the day of the event, ostensibly to boost morale in the navy.
When the buffet was served, sailors piled their plates high with dishes they had never seen before. They were eager to eat their fill, convinced they would never have another chance to eat such rich delicacies.
After the sailors ate more than three times the usual amount, many complained about feeling bloated and having stomachaches signaling the onset of diarrhea. Some even said they felt a fever coming on.
Some of the sailors were taken to the infirmary because of stomach pain and diarrhea, leading medics to form an emergency response team and brief their superiors about the situation.
After the briefing, the commander of the Choe Hyon told the medics to handle the situation discreetly to avoid spoiling the mood at the event.
Medical officers in the infirmary initially suspected food poisoning, but after examining the patients, they concluded that the sailors were actually suffering from acute gastrointestinal distress due to excessive consumption of high-fat foods.
“The diagnosis was that sailors excited about the unusually rich banquet had eaten way too much, triggering intestinal problems. In short, their stomachs had trouble handling fatty food that’s not part of their typical diet,” the source explained.
Medical officers had the ailing sailors take digestive aids and other medications every two hours to prevent dehydration.
Navy orders nutritional reforms
The incident has rekindled discussion about sailors’ malnutrition in the navy. In particular, crewmembers on destroyers are typically fed steamed barley, doenjang (fermented soybean) soup and salted fish, with the result that their fat consumption falls far below recommended levels.
The navy leadership ordered that marines going on long sea journeys receive detailed nutritional assessments, and the navy’s medical bureau has reportedly designated digestive aids, electrolyte supplements and antibiotics as essential supplies to be provided to ocean-going crews starting next month.
In addition, each naval squadron has been ordered to gradually increase the portion of fatty dishes in sailors’ meals and to instruct sailors on the need to eat small portions of fatty food and avoid overeating when treated to lavish meals.
“Residents of Pyongyang and Nampo were dismayed to hear about the incident. They remarked that both civilians and soldiers are always so hungry that a single feast can cause stomach distress. To those whose bodies are accustomed to hunger, locals observed, a full meal can do more harm than good,” the source said.
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