The Korean Friendship Association is an organization working with the Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). It was established in Spain in November 2000. It has representatives in many countries around the world, including Spain, the US, Norway, Canada, Russia and China.
Purpose
According to the association's homepage, its primary purpose is to promote friendly relations and establish an Internet presence for North Korea. But its most tangible function is to arrange trips for those who can convince the KFA that they are sympathetic to the DPRK.
The KFA is a non-profit organization. The KFA arrange visas and provide the North Korean media with a supply of foreigners. Foreigners who volunteer for visits with a political touch, such as the "Reunification March", figure prominently on the daily North Korean newscasts" because they want to show their support to people from around the world for the DPRK's unique ideology and politics.
The KFA's founder and president, Alejandro Cao de Benos (de Les y Perez), a Barcelona-based IT consultant, believes that his web site, although limited, is better than no site at all. Mr Cao de Benos is a dual citizen of the DPRK and Spain, and is a
Special Delegate of the DPRK government who proclaims an open willingness to sacrifice his life for the
Dear Leader Kim Jong-il. During the 2004 Reunification March he described the KFA as both an
army of Kim Jong-il and
an intellectual army that fights for what he considers a "correct understanding" of the DPRK.
Structure
The Korean Friendship Association has over 4,500 members in 76 countries. Each country has an "Official Delegate" who is responsible for activities in their countries.
Organized trips
The Korean Friendship Association currently arranges two trips a year to North Korea for its members or other interested parties. The agenda is usually motivated to show solidarity and support with North Korea's wish for reunification. The "March for the Reunification of Korea" was a trip in 2004, and similar travel tours are organized every year for a limited number of selected persons by the KFA. Next year a trip will be arranged to honor the foundation of the Korean People's Army which at around one-million soldiers is the largest standing army in the world. So the trips are politically motivated, but gives the traveller permission to visit extended areas normally not permitted to "ordinary" tourists.
Controversy
During the 2004 Reunification March, an American journalist was alleged to have broken several rules while on the trip and was accused of not following the guidelines from KFA and DPRK officials. This journalist was said to have filmed "military targets" and other things that caused offence.
According to unofficial travel accounts by people who were members of the delegation Source1 Source2, this incident led Mr Cao de Benos to ransack the hotel rooms of the journalist and one other participant. According to these accounts, Alejandro seized the journalist's videotapes, and damaged his laptop as well as the other participant's laptop. This second participant was not charged with breaking any rule and was compensated for the damaged laptop. There was some heated discussion and in the moment some threats were allegedly made, although not all present could recall this happened.
Official KFA links
External references to the KFA
Last updated: 05-23-2005 05:42:16
