Alejandro Cao de Benos de Les y Perez
Encyclopedia
Alejandro Cao de Benós de Les y Pérez (Tarragona
, Spain
- 1974) is a communist and the president of the Korean Friendship Association
(KFA) and has been an advocate of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) since 1990. He is currently an honorary Special Delegate of the DPRK's Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries
, and his activities are occasionally mentioned in bulletins from the Korean Central News Agency
. His Korean name, Zo Sun-il ("Korea is One"), is officially recognized by North Korea. He has lived in Tarragona
and Barcelona
(in the region of Catalonia
, Spain
, working as an IT consultant).
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.
Cao travels regularly to Pyongyang
, organizing international delegations for the foreign press, cultural exchanges and business meetings, which entail working with DPRK 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 DPRK party line, he continues to be greatly involved with the Korean Friendship Association as well as with North Korean international relations, and the reunification of the Korean peninsula. Cao is prominently featured in the documentary "Friends of Kim".
from the DPRK's 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.
Tarragona
Tarragona is a city located in the south of Catalonia on the north-east of Spain, by the Mediterranean. It is the capital of the Spanish province of the same name and the capital of the Catalan comarca Tarragonès. In the medieval and modern times it was the capital of the Vegueria of Tarragona...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
- 1974) is a communist and the president of the Korean Friendship Association
Korean Friendship Association
The Korean Friendship Association , headed by Spanish citizen Alejandro Cao de Benos de Les y Pérez, is an organization working with the Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , as well as an organ of promotion/public relations for the...
(KFA) and has been an advocate of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) since 1990. He is currently an honorary Special Delegate of the DPRK's Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries
Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries
The Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries is based in North Korea . It is responsible for organizing a wide area of cultural events and to develop international relations between the DPRK and many countries of the world....
, and his activities are occasionally mentioned in bulletins from the Korean Central News Agency
Korean Central News Agency
The Korean Central News Agency is the state news agency of North Korea and has existed since December 5, 1946. KCNA is headquartered in the capital city of Pyongyang...
. His Korean name, Zo Sun-il ("Korea is One"), is officially recognized by North Korea. He has lived in Tarragona
Tarragona
Tarragona is a city located in the south of Catalonia on the north-east of Spain, by the Mediterranean. It is the capital of the Spanish province of the same name and the capital of the Catalan comarca Tarragonès. In the medieval and modern times it was the capital of the Vegueria of Tarragona...
and Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
(in the region of Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, working as an IT consultant).
Official activities in North Korea
Cao founded the Korean Friendship Association in the year 2000, setting up an officially approved DPRK website. It includes a media section and a web-shop where badges, North Korean music, and other items can be bought on-line.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.
Cao travels regularly to Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
, organizing international delegations for the foreign press, cultural exchanges and business meetings, which entail working with DPRK 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
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, newspapers, radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
press. As one of the few foreigners to devoutly follow the DPRK party line, he continues to be greatly involved with the Korean Friendship Association as well as with North Korean international relations, and the reunification of the Korean peninsula. Cao is prominently featured in the documentary "Friends of Kim".
North Korean positions and awards
According to the KFA, Cao has received several North Korean awards including the North Korean Friendship MedalOrder of Friendship 2nd Class
- North Korean Friendship Medal :...
from the DPRK's Supreme People's Assembly
Supreme People's Assembly
The Supreme People's Assembly is the unicameral parliament of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , commonly known as North Korea...
, diplomas from the Central Committee of Radio and Television of the DPRK and the Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries
Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries
The Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries is based in North Korea . It is responsible for organizing a wide area of cultural events and to develop international relations between the DPRK and many countries of the world....
, and a personal gift from Kim Jong Il.