Alejandro Cao de Benós: Difference between revisions
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He has been an advocate of North Korea since 1990. His Korean name, Cho Son-il ("Korea is One"), is self given but not considered legal as he travels using his Spanish Passport <ref name=":0" />. He has lived in [[Tarragona]] and [[Barcelona]] ([[Spain]]), working as an IT consultant.<ref name="independent">{{cite web| url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/his-dear-leader-meet-north-koreas-secret-weapon--an-it-consultant-from-spain-6291303.html | title=His dear leader: Meet North Korea's secret weapon - an IT consultant from Spain|work=The Independent|date=21 January 2012|accessdate=4 May 2015}}</ref> A single, unnamed detractor called him a "'perfect example of the [[useful idiot]].'"<ref name="independent" /> |
He has been an advocate of North Korea since 1990. His Korean name, Cho Son-il ("Korea is One"), is self given but not considered legal as he travels using his Spanish Passport <ref name=":0" />. He has lived in [[Tarragona]] and [[Barcelona]] ([[Spain]]), working as an IT consultant.<ref name="independent">{{cite web| url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/his-dear-leader-meet-north-koreas-secret-weapon--an-it-consultant-from-spain-6291303.html | title=His dear leader: Meet North Korea's secret weapon - an IT consultant from Spain|work=The Independent|date=21 January 2012|accessdate=4 May 2015}}</ref> A single, unnamed detractor called him a "'perfect example of the [[useful idiot]].'"<ref name="independent" /> |
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==Korean Friendship Assocation activities== |
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==Official activities in North Korea== |
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Cao founded the Korean Friendship Association in 2000, setting up an officially approved North Korea website.<ref>[http://www.korea-dpr.com The Official Webpage of The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)]</ref> It includes a media section and a web-shop where badges, [[North Korean music]] and other items can be bought online. |
Cao founded the Korean Friendship Association in 2000, setting up an officially approved North Korea website.<ref>[http://www.korea-dpr.com The Official Webpage of The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)]</ref> It includes a media section and a web-shop where badges, [[North Korean music]] and other items can be bought online. |
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Revision as of 00:48, 14 January 2016
Alejandro Cao de Benós de Les y Pérez 조선일 | |
|---|---|
 Picture of Alejandro Cao taken in front of the Yanggakdo International Hotel in Pyongyang, June 2012. | |
| President of the Korean Friendship Association | |
| Assumed office 8 August 2000 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1974 Reus, Catalonia, Spain |
| Political party | Workers' Party of Korea |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  North Korea |
| Branch/service | Spanish Army Korean People's Army |
| Rank | Alférez |
| Alejandro Cao de Benós | |
| Chosŏn'gŭl | 조선일 |
|---|---|
| Hancha | 朝鮮一 |
| Revised Romanization | Jo Seon Il |
| McCune–Reischauer | Cho Sŏn-il |
Alejandro Cao de Benós de Les y Pérez (born 1974) is according to himself the Spanish Special Delegate of North Korea's Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries. No mention of his position can be found on official government pages.
He is also the founder , president and only salaried member of the Korean Friendship Association (KFA).[1] All official government and Ministerial sites of North Korea have the .kp domain and given the whois record for KFA´s website points towards it being the personally owned domain of Alejandro Cao de Benos .
He has been an advocate of North Korea since 1990. His Korean name, Cho Son-il ("Korea is One"), is self given but not considered legal as he travels using his Spanish Passport [1]. He has lived in Tarragona and Barcelona (Spain), working as an IT consultant.[2] A single, unnamed detractor called him a "'perfect example of the useful idiot.'"[2]
Korean Friendship Assocation activities
Cao founded the Korean Friendship Association in 2000, setting up an officially approved North Korea website.[3] It includes a media section and a web-shop where badges, North Korean music and other items can be bought online.
In 2002, Cao became the first foreigner allowed to work on behalf of the North Korean authorities in an official capacity, thus fulfilling a dream he had had since he was a teenager. This required that North Korean law had to be changed. He was given a North Korean passport. His official assignment is as a "special representative" of the Foreign Ministry.[4]
Cao travels regularly to Pyongyang, organizing international delegations for the foreign press (constantly under supervision), cultural exchanges and business meetings, which entail working with North Korean officials in many ministries in both cultural and diplomatic affairs. He has written numerous articles on matters relating to the political situation in the Korean Peninsula, as well as giving interviews for television, newspapers, radio and Internet press. As one of the few foreigners to devoutly follow the North Korean party line, he continues to be greatly involved with the Korean Friendship Association as well as with North Korean international relations. Cao is prominently featured in the documentaries ''Friends of Kim'' and ''The Propaganda Game.''
Positions and awards
According to the KFA, Cao has received several North Korean awards, including the North Korean Friendship Medal from the North Korean Supreme People's Assembly, diplomas from the Central Committee of Radio and Television of the DPRK and the Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, and a personal gift from Kim Jong-il.[5]
Criticism
Cao de Benós has also received widespread criticism from the Western press for, among other things, trying to restrict the freedom of expression of journalists from outside countries. He has expelled members of the "Association of Friendship with Korea" for "disrespect".[6] He has also been accused of threatening and intimidating journalists critical of North Korea. When Andrew Morse of ABC News visited the country in 2004, invited by the Association, he was accused of using sensationalist language to describe Kochang farm cooperatives.[7] Once in Pyongyang, Alejandro Cao broke into and searched through Morse's hotel room, confiscated his tapes, damaged his laptop and forced him to sign an apologetic letter in order to leave the country.[6] Cao de Benós has also tried to disrupt the work of other NGOs operating in North Korea by complaining about their work or their portrayal of problems in North Korea.
References
- ^ a b "Investigation By South Korean Media of Alajandro Cao de Benos".
- ^ a b "His dear leader: Meet North Korea's secret weapon - an IT consultant from Spain". The Independent. 21 January 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
- ^ The Official Webpage of The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)
- ^ Villarino, Ángel (April 24, 2010). "Un aristócrata en la corte de Kim Jong II". La Razón (in Spanish). Madrid, Spain. Archived from the original on 2010-09-27. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ http://www.korea-dpr.com/romenov.htm[dead link]
- ^ a b This incident and Alejandro's acknowledgement of responsibility can be seen in the "Friends of Kim" documentary
- ^ Korea Joongang Daily, ed. (April 17, 2005). "For love of Dear Leader: Spaniard's mission is to show North to world". Retrieved 15 September 2015.
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External links
- Interviews and conferences
- Entrevista exclusiva con Alejandro Cao de Benós on YouTube (Spanish)
- Alejandro Cao de Benós para LaRepública.es on YouTube (Spanish)
- Conferencia completa de Alejandro Cao de Benós en Tarragona (10-XI-2012) on YouTube (Spanish)
- Conferencia en la universidad de Castellón on YouTube (Spanish)