Whether the story, which you have as good as accepted as plausible [1], does closely parallel the proposed Neanderthal case, is a separate issue (in that regard

Whether the story, which you have as good as accepted as plausible [1], does closely parallel the proposed Neanderthal case, is a separate issue (in that regard, note that all OP says about that is "it is likely these people have the same bone deformities.") >And [OP] suggested those North Koreans were likely doing the same. [my emphasis of the weasel word] So it seems you will read the anecdote literally when doing so allows you to attack its credibility, and you will find an unstated assumption in it if doing so allows you to attack its relevance. As noted above, the OP merely seems to be suggesting something that other posters have also mentioned: the physical evidence mentioned in the article might have been the result of winter famine, and not definitive evidence of hibernation; furthermore, there may be people alive today, or recently deceased, in whom this physiological damage might be found. I can't say for sure, but OP may be suggesting that they might help with the further studies of this hypothesis. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25490193 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25490193