Associated Press have reported the news that North Korea's hierarchical origin system, 'Songbun,' seems to be changing because of wealth gained through trade.

North Korea's Songbun system is divided into the core, the unsettled, and the hostile classes. This can be seen as a North Korean version of a caste system. This system's inequality is also handed down through generations. However, according to experts, defectors, and activists, as the importance of money increases in North Korea, the Songbun system is becoming weaker. Moreover, for people who want to earn lots of money, their origins do not have any meaning.

Also, people who want to go to good colleges or to get a good job are able to pay money to fake their identity. However, AP stated that they risk their lives by doing so.

Source: Yonhap News