
Another day, another wild North Korean claim, but is it science fiction, or a genuine scientific miracle?
The Pyongyang Times, the state-sanctioned newspaper out of North Korea, has been boldly proclaiming the country’s newest outstanding achievement. Unlike the literal earth-shaking bomb test earlier in the year, this new claim might change the world for the better…if Kim Jong Un is willing to share it with the rest of us.
Developed from the indigenous ginseng called insam, the new drink boasts a 30 to 40-percent alcohol content and is supposed to give you all the buzz of a normal drink, but spare you from the buzz-kill that follows the next morning. The drink replaces sugar with scorched glutinous rice, which helps to remove the bitterness from the insam and is the key ingredient that keeps the hangover at bay.
▼ Those insam look so…tasty.
This miracle drink is already a source of North Korean national pride and has won numerous awards there. The Pyongyang Times also states that it “is highly appreciated by experts and lovers…it’s a national scientific and technological hit.”
Bold claims such as these are not uncommon for North Korea, but it is still left to be seen whether or not there is any real data to back it up. We would love to see a liquor that doesn’t give us a hangover, especially with the existence of the “drinking party” culture in Japan. If the makers of this drink would like to send us some samples for scientific research, RocketNews24 will definitely enlist Mr. Sato to conduct a tumultuous drinking adventure…for science.
Source: BBC News
Top image: Flickr/Andy
Inset image: Flickr/Sakeeb Sabakka
Featured image via 360telemetry


North Korea “invents” performance-enhancing drink from mushrooms, Nintendo lawyers remain silent
Japanese dad teaches daughter how to handle alcohol, has Twitter in tears
Anime fan in Japan arrested for ordering and cancelling over 4.3 billion yen in anime merch
Starbucks Japan teams up with Traveler’s Company for new stationery and goods collection
Beautiful Totoro bonsai figure needs no watering, makes soothing rain showers whenever you want
Kochia calling: Right now is a great off-season season to visit this beautiful Japanese park
7-Eleven Japan rethinks convenience store drinks with new Grilled Corn Chilled Soup Smoothie
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Japanese convenience store Lawson now has stir-fried noodle-cooking robot chefs
End of a manga era as Weekly Shonen Jump’s circulation drops under one million
Over 400 titles of free translated manga from publisher Shueisha available for a limited time
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Tokyo’s newest viral dessert is like a Japanese parfait inside a bread bun [Taste test]
Japanese vending machine sells freshly squeezed lemon juice with a futuristic light show
7-Eleven Japan adds new chocolate fruit gummies to its sweets range, but are they worth the hype?
Studio Ghibli’s No Face twirls to sound of Spirited Away’s theme song in beautiful accessory box
Starbucks Japan opens new store inside historic seaside quarantine station near Tokyo
Live-action Princess Mononoke is coming to streaming as a live event, previews look amazing [Video]
Pokémon comes to McDonald’s Japan for new Happy Meals toys, brings every generation’s starters
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
Family Mart opens new “Famima” flagship store in Tokyo that’s like a tourist attraction
Uniqlo looks back to the very start of Pokémon with new black-and-white pixel art T-shirts[Pics]
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】