North Korean kimchi may get Unesco tag

London: The United Nations on Tuesday said that it is poised to grant Intangible Cultural Heritage status to the making of North Korean kimchi. Unesco has already bestowed the honour on the manufacture of the South Korean version of the pickled cabbage dish.

Given that it has described kimchi from both Koreas as “delicious”, it is expected North Korean kimchi will also receive the title. Sour and often spicy, kimchi is a daily staple in both Koreas.

It is often homemade and comes in many varieties. There are intense rivalries between regions over who has the best version, The BBC said. In general, North Korean kimchi is less red and less spicy than its southern cousin - the result of fewer, or no, chillies, which are more commonly grown in the South.

The dish is also increasingly popular abroad, and in 2008 even went into space, with South Korean astronaut Ko San. Intangible Cultural Heritage status is awarded to practices that Unesco feels are both especially important to world heritage and cultural diversity, and deserving of lasting protection.

Joining the Democratic Republic of Korea’s kimchi-making techniques on a list of nominations expected to be approved next week, is the preparation of Arabic coffee, following successful lobbying by Qatar, Saudi and Oman.