North Korea scored a major victory in the kimchi wars Monday when the UN all but elevated its pickled vegetables to the same lofty status as its southern neighbor's spicy cabbage.

Pyongyang suffered a blow to its prestige two years ago when South Korea's kimchi - a favorite dish made mostly from fermented cabbage - was added to UNESCO's prestigious list of the world's "intangible cultural heritage." Not to be outdone, the North is now on the brink of getting the same classification for its own kimchi. 

The fiery, strong-smelling foodstuff can provoke strong emotions, with fierce rivalry between regions, communities and even families over whose kimchi is superior.

"Koreans share experience among themselves to make delicious kimchi according to season, while helping each other with raw materials and in preparation," UNESCO said as it confirmed the inclusion of North Korea's "red kimchi" on a list of nominations to be rubberstamped at a meeting next week in Namibia.

It is likely to be joined on the list by the preparation of Arabic coffee, with which guests are traditionally welcomed in the region, following a successful joint campaign by Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar.

Koreans traditionally get together in late November and early December to make enough kimchi to last through the peninsula's long, hard winter.

"The tradition contributes to social unity since it is practiced in the whole society involving neighborhoods, relatives, villages and organizations," UNESCO said.

Kimchi is eaten daily by 95 percent of Koreans, and more than half have it as a side dish at every meal, including breakfast, according to a 2011 survey.

Seventeen other folk and artisanal traditions are also set to receive UNESCO help and protection, including the crafting of Portugese cow bells, bagpipe-playing in Slovakia, endangered oral traditions in Uganda, Mongolian "camel coaxing" rituals and male-only Romanian dances.