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Earlier this month the soldier, identified only by his surname Oh, fled across the border from North Korea into South Korea. He was shot several times by fellow soldiers at the DMZ before being rescued by South Korean agents. Oh was forced to undergo emergency surgery, during which shocked doctors discovered huge 10-inch long parasites. These parasitic worms reveal the true extent of malnourishment in the world’s most secretive society, experts have since revealed.

GETTY / CNN North Korea's secrets have been revealed by parasites found inside a defector

Shock footage stills of North Korean defector escaping across border Wed, November 22, 2017 Dramatic footage of a North Korean soldier's defection released on November 22 showed him racing across the border under fire from former comrades, and then being hauled to safety by South Korean troops. The defector, who ran across the border at the Panmunjom truce village on November 13, was shot at least four times and has been recovering in a South Korean hospital Play slideshow EPA 1 of 11 A North Korean Korean People's Army (KPA) defector driving along a road leading to the truce village of Panmunjom

Choi Min-ho of Seoul National University College of Medicine said the parasites, one which was most commonly found in dogs, highlighted horrific conditions in North Korea. He told CNN the worms were usually transmitted after contact with faeces or unwashed hands. While they are usually easily treated with medicine, North Koreans typically do not have access to even basic drugs to deal with infections. Mr Choi said: “It is a vicious cycle that is hard to stop in North Korea. They are so desperate to make ends meet that they cannot take proper preventive measures. “For those who can eat well and are healthy, parasitic infections might not be a big deal. But for those malnourished, this can be much more critical as parasites steal much-needed nutrition."

There are many soldiers who also die from disease because they're not given medical treatment Kang Ri Kyuk

This sentiment was echoed by Kang Ri Kyuk, another defector. He said: “There are many soldiers who also die from disease because they're not given medical treatment. “Everyone was hungry, even the soldiers. The UN is sending rice and fertilizer and it all goes to the ranking officials under Kim Jong-Un.” The doctors who carried out the surgery on Oh were shocked by the size of the parasites they found. Lee Cook-Jong said: “In my 20 years as a surgeon, I have only seen something like this in a medical textbook.”

CNN North Korea news: Huge parasites were found inside the hermit state

Oh was also discovered to have hepatitis B, something usually transmitted through unsterilised needles or by sexual activity. The soldier escaped across the border in a daring flight captured on CCTV camera. Footage shows Oh speeding towards the Joint Security Area (JSA), where both North Korea and South Korean soldiers operate.

UNC The defector sprints across the DMZ - doctors later discovered parasites while carrying out surgery