North Korea is promoting the consumption of dog meat by suggesting it has more vitamins than chicken, beef, pork or duck.

Stories across the country's state media in recent months describe dishes including dog meat as traditional "stamina food", while extolling their health benefits.

North Korean propaganda channel DPRK Today suggested the meat was good for the intestines and stomach and contained more vitamins than other meat.

It also claimed the dog should be beaten to death and its fur removed before being scorched to improve its taste, according to the Korea Times.

Dog meat is referred to as "dangogi" in North Korea, which translates to "sweet meat". Radio broadcaster Tongil Voice described dog stew as the "finest medicine".

"There's an old saying that even a slice of dangogi can be good medicine during the dog days," it said.

"It shows our people's love for dangogi and that dangogi is the finest of all medicines, especially during the dog days when the weather is scorching."