South Korea has recorded its highest temperature since modern weather records began in 1904, with the south-eastern city of Yangsan reaching 42.5C on Sunday — its fifth consecutive day above 40C. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) urged residents to "immediately stop all outdoor activities," warning that indoor spaces without air conditioning were also dangerous, while Prime Minister Han Seong-sook ordered local officials to strengthen safety checks on vulnerable residents. The extreme heat, which has also affected North Korea and prompted emergency heatwave alerts across more than 20 South Korean localities, is expected to persist, with officials monitoring Typhoon Dolphin whose path could either worsen or temporarily ease conditions across the peninsula.