When a North Korean soldier was seen on camera last week dramatically running for his life across the border to freedom in South Korea, there was something about his escape that shocked the world – his medical condition.

Besides being shot five times by his own countrymen who tried to prevent his escape, he was found with several life threatening diseases. He was found with hepatitis B, tuberculosis and enormous parasitic worms. His organs have been severely damaged and is currently undergoing medical treatment in South Korea.

The soldier was found with uncooked corn in his stomach. Soldiers are not getting enough food, so they have been ordered by their commanders to steal corn from the crops of local famers in order to survive. The soldiers wander into the fields during ‘guard duty’ and eat directly from the cob without being cooked. This method helps to keep them from getting caught. Stealing food is sometimes punishable by death.

BTJ reported earlier that North Korea might be facing a severe food shortage because of the droughts experienced. Last week’s defector somewhat confirms that North Koreans are starving to death and are being forced to suffer in silence.

North Koreans are locked in a prison nation.

North Korean military members are at the top of the social food chain. The defector is a mid level leader in the Korean army with the distinction of being loyal enough to to the regime to be trusted to serve on the heavily sensitive South Korean border.

If the loyal members of the most trusted North Korean military units are starving, then it is absolutely certain that the lower levels of North Korea’s social system are faring far far worse.

Let’s make it simple.

North Korea officially divides their people into three different classes of people – Core Class, Basic Class, and Complex Class. This system is called Songbun and the world should know about it.

BTJ SONGBUN CHART

Class	50 Sub-classifications	Treatment
Core Class (Elites) 28%	This is the elite class made up of war heroes, Loyalists, people who have spent time with the GREAT LEADER, etc.	-Ruling party members -Military leadership -Allowed extra food, housing, money, travel
Basic Class (Commoners) 45%	These are the everyday people made up of farmers, merchants, and can only be trusted with meager resources	-Employed as laborers -Tradesmen -Service Industry
Complex Class (Untouchables) 27%	These are people who have been formerly tied to wealthy farmers, business people, or land owners in the past. Those that have been found to be Christians or have a history of Christianity in their families	-Dangerous jobs such as mining, railroad, or digging tunnels -Blocked from education -Heavy monitoring -Subjected to re-education camps

If the Elite Class is suffering from malnutrition and parasites, then it is safe to say that the Untouchables are most likely on the verge of dying of starvation.

Many North Koreans are desperately trying to escape, but North Korea is like a large prison equipped with walls, gates, surveillance equipment, and guards with guns.

Back to Jerusalem missionaries are working and living in North Korea and secretly providing both food and Bibles. These small BTJ teams are able to work in places that large official NGO’s or UN sanctioned groups cannot go. The BTJ teams are also able to personally ensure that aid gets directly to the people that it is intended for and not to the army or political party members.

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