Korean Friendship Association

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The Korean Friendship Association (KFA) is a rather odd group of people who describe themselves as having the purpose of building international ties with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and to "Show the reality of the DPR Korea to the world".[1]

Thus far their main achievements appear to be the construction of a website — using the latest in 1990s web design techniques (recently updated to a more modern web design style), and posing in lots of pictures showing the DPRK as being a really great place to live. They present a bizarre version of the world in which North Korea is a bastion of "peace, friendship, and independence", and the unfortunate victim of imperialistic conspiracies to prevent the peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula.[2] The line taken by the KFA is pretty much what one would expect to hear from any North Korean government agency, and certainly neglects to mention trifling details such as governmental censorship of external media sources and the harsh treatment of those who would dissent from the party line.

Contents

[edit] Leadership

The founder and current president of the KFA is a Spanish man named Alejandro Cao de Benos de Les y Pérez - who judging by the gallery on the website, enjoys dressing in military uniforms and posing for pictures with North Koreans.[3] The president is also unique in being the first foreigner to work in an official capacity for the government of the DPRK, and is a holder of the much coveted "Friendship Medal" - awarded to him by Kim Jong Il.

[edit] Activities

The group seeks to aid the process of reunification, primarily by helping the world realise that the DPRK is actually a really nice place and that Kim Jong-un not so much a deranged despot - more a benevolent and wise leader. They organise trips to North Korea, for tourism and business reasons. The gallery on the site shows photos of their many trips to the dear leader's communist paradise - many of which would be quite funny if they were not glossing over the brutal incompetence of the regime and the suffering of those not in favour with the party. Although the militaristic elements of the regime are not glossed-over, there's certainly scant mention of the widespread starvation and oppression of many North Koreans.

The group also leads activities in western countries to protest the "unfair" treatment of the DPRK. The images of these protests would suggest that the KFA has more banners and flags than actual members.[4]

[edit] Surely this is a parody?

Unfortunately, no. While many people flirt with communism during their college years, the KFA appears to be made up of those who didn't manage to grow out of such things. The KFA has been referenced in press releases from the DPRK, so assuming that Kim Jong Il isn't a master parodist, it must be concluded that group is for real. Whether the KFA is aware of the less pleasant side of North Korea is unclear, but certainly the standard practice in North Korea is to ensure that tourists are steered away from parts of the country that the dear leader does not wish them to see.[5] Even accepting that western counties may be pursuing an agenda to demonise Kim Jong Il and his workers' paradise, it seems that one would have to be delusional or dishonest to be part of the KFA.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] Footnotes

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