Report: Kim Jong Un told farmers to use human feces, may have caused parasitic worm epidemic

North Korea has a parasite problem and Kim Jong Un may be responsible.

According to Reuters, the North Korean soldier who defected by crossing the heavily fortified demilitarized zone into South Korea, had "an enormous number" of parasitic worms in his body, with one measuring 11-inches in length.

The worms were discovered by doctors as they fight to save the man's life. He was shot five times by his comrades as he fled.

"In my over 20 year-long career as a surgeon, I have only seen something like this in a textbook," said the surgeon treating the solider.

Doctors say the rate of parasitic infection and number of parasites should be low for the soldier's age, who's in his mid-20s. So what's going on?

According to Reuters, because chemical fertilizer is so hard to come by, in 2014, Kim Jong Un personally urged farmers to use human and livestock feces for their crops.

However, lack of livestock has made animal waste hard to come by.

"They need fertilizer to continue farming. However, due to the lack of fertilizer, North Koreans fertilize their fields with human excrement. And this becomes an immediate cause of the parasitic infection."

Corn was also found in the soldier's stomach, a staple grain many North Koreans may be relying on as the country grapples with the worst drought since 2001.