North Korea

Information on North Korea’s agriculture is limited, but chili peppers (gochu) are a documented staple in Korean cuisines generally. North Korean farmers grow Capsicum annuum types similar to those in the South: medium-heat red chilies akin to Korean gochu, dried and ground into gochugaru, plus green chilies eaten fresh or pickled.

Peppers are used in kimchi, stews, and sauces, though overall diets may be less chili-heavy than in the South due to resource constraints. Imports of chili are minimal; North Korea is largely self-reliant for basic vegetables.

There is some export of dried chili and chili pastes to friendly countries, but most production is for domestic use. Flavours skew towards moderately hot, earthy, and slightly smoky dried chilies rather than ultra-hot types.