OSINT Insider Special Edition #2 - Exposing North Korean Sympathizers from Around the World
Revealing the true identities of North Korean sympathizers and supporters from around the world using a recent leak of the KFA (Korean Friendship Association) mailing list.
This article was researched and written by Cory Bravo, an analyst at Farnsworth Intelligence.
On July 31st, the X account @browsercookies reported on an unknown individual who had posted a list containing information about approximately 200 members of the Korean Friendship Association (KFA). The list contained the email addresses, LinkedIn profiles, and X accounts of KFA members and chapters, ranging from Belarus and Sweden to Colombia and New Zealand. Furthermore, the list included several other organizations, which ranged from political parties and their constituent entities to various North Korean associations. The article will discuss a brief list of KFA members and will also include the chapters and North Korean associations at the end.
Alex Dillard
Alex Dillard is the Official Delegate and member of the KFA’s USA chapter and lives in Fremont, California. Dillard will repost posts made by Nodutdol, a U.S.-based organization that describes itself as organizing “for a world free of imperialism and for Korea’s re/unification and national liberation” on his Facebook profile. The organization shares views similar to those of KFA, particularly regarding the eventual reunification of Korea under North Korean leadership. However, Nodutdol lists San Jose Against War as one of the entities that endorsed the organization’s U.S. Out of Korea campaign. San Jose Against War made a post on its Instagram page on July 7th about the FBI seizing Dillard’s personal electronic devices during a search warrant. The FBI warrant is in relation to an alleged investigation they are conducting to determine if Dillard has any ties to Russia and if he is acting as a foreign agent on their behalf, according to San Jose Against War and FIGHT BACK News.
Dillard expresses a belief in communism based on examining his social media profiles. For example, the handles to his now-deleted Instagram and X accounts are marxengelsleninstalin1945 and AlexDillard1917, respectively. Both handles are linked to notable individuals or events related to communism, including the year 1917, which marks the Russian Revolution that led to the creation of the Soviet Union. His Instagram profile features the last names of notable communist and Soviet leaders, including Karl Marx and Josef Stalin. However, Dillard will also use usernames that reflect his communist views or sympathies, such as an American Marxist-Leninist username for his Truth Social profile.
He is very active on his Facebook and VK accounts, where he makes or reshares posts about notable individuals or events that involve the communist parties of other countries. For example, he reshared several posts about the Jordanian or Syrian communist parties, such as the deaths of prominent members or events, on his Facebook profile. Dillard also posted about pro-Palestinian or anti-Zionist protests or events that occur in California and other areas in the United States on his Facebook and VK accounts.
Regarding his now-deleted X account, Dillard has previously made comments that provided insight into his work with the KFA. The best example is how he made a post in September 2023 that he works with Jackson Hinkle through the KFA US Chapter, and how the “anti-imperialist communist sphere of politics will be far ahead of where it is now if all petty drama between creators stopped.” Dillard’s comment about “petty drama” alludes to the various comments he made on X and Telegram regarding his views on communism and anti-imperialism.
Graham Holton
Graham Holton is a likely member of the KFA’s Australia chapter. Holton is a member of the Communist Party of Australia (CPA) and the Secretary of its Sunshine Coast branch. He is a retired professor who previously taught at the University of Queensland, Australia, as a member of its School of Political Science & International Studies Department. However, Holton stated that he taught at other universities, such as La Trobe University, Melbourne University, and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT). He also attended most of the colleges from which he received his BA, PhD, and other advanced degrees, as indicated by his profiles on academia.edu’s UoQ and independent websites.
Holton regularly contributes articles to The Worker's Weekly Guardian, the party's weekly newsletter, as part of his association with the CPA. For example, he wrote two articles for its August 25th newsletter, titled “Queensland Teachers’ Strikes Update” and “Trump’s Culture Wars.” Holton wrote or appeared in other CPA publications, ranging from editorials to news articles about events that the entity held. For example, Holton wrote an article in October 2023 about how the CPA’s Brisbane and Sunshine Coast branches jointly held the Queensland Party School at the Waterloo Bay Hotel in the Brisbane suburb of Wynnum.
Regarding his association with North Korean entities, Holton attended a “joint gathering” that commemorated the 70th anniversary of the founding of North Korea on September 9, 2018, based on his Instagram profile picture. However, there are no additional indicators that would determine where the event was held. Furthermore, an examination of the KFA’s Australia Instagram profile did not reveal a post discussing the event. This, however, is likely due to chapter members deleting the posts that appeared on the profile prior to April 2019.
Dermot Hudson
Dermot Hudson is the Chairman of the KFA U.K. Chapter, the Chairman of the Juche Idea Study Group of England, and the President of the Association for the Study of Songun Politics U.K. Hudson holds an extremely positive view of communism and North Korea’s Juche and Songun ideologies. For example, his emails, Google account, and social media profiles have the words "Juche" or "Songun" in them, indicating his deep passion for the political ideologies. Hudson is very active on his social media platforms, with him making daily posts on his Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts about North Korea and criticizing the U.K.’s policies towards South and North Korea. Hudson also has some connections to other KFA chapters, such as the KFA U.S. chapter, based on a video he conducted with Ameer, a chapter member, in June 2024. He also made a post on X about the FBI conducting a search warrant at Alex Dillard’s residence.
Hudson traveled abroad extensively, including to Germany and North Korea. He ate at a German Democratic Republic (GDR)-themed restaurant called VolksKammer during a trip to Berlin, Germany, in 2023. Hudson wrote a Google review, under the username Songun007, about the restaurant and gave four stars. He praised the meal's portions, stating that “I have never seen such a big piece of chicken in my life people in the GDR must have eaten well.” However, he did complain about the meal’s cost, specifically of Vita Cola. Hudson also stated that Germany needed socialist prices and that the capitalist authorities in East Berlin allowed the area to decay.
Regarding his trips to North Korea, Hudson most recently traveled to Pyongyang in May 2024, based on a picture found on his Facebook profile. The picture was taken at the Arch of Triumph, a monument built by North Korea to commemorate the Korean resistance to Japan, which is located in the Triumph Return Square. The picture captured Hudson standing near the monument, donning sunglasses. He also likely stayed at or went to the Koryo Hotel during the trip, based on a reply he wrote to an individual regarding the black suit he wore in the picture. Hudson mentioned that he had the suit custom-made for him at the Koryo Hotel.
Hudson has previously traveled to North Korea, where he met or interacted with individuals who also shared his views. For example, he visited North Korea in 2008, where he met with members of the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front (AINDF) South Korea chapter. Hudson met and took a picture with Comrade Zo Il Min, then Chief for the AINDF’s mission to Pyongyang. The AINDF is guided by Juche and aims to foment a popular revolution that would cause the overthrow of the capitalist system, the removal of U.S. military presence from the Korean Peninsula, and reunification under North Korean rule. However, South Korea considers the organization a united front and a spy organization for North Korea and banned it under its National Security Law. The AINDF has significant connections to KFA as well as other North Korean organizations such as the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) and the now-dissolved Democratic Front for the Reunification of Korea.
Mehmet Adnan Akfirat
Mehmet Adnan Akfirat is a member of the KFA's Turkey chapter and holds several positions at Chinese-Turkish associations and companies. Akfirat is the vice chairman at China-Turkiye Trade Development (Xinjiang) Co. Ltd. and the owner of the Turkish-Chinese Business Matching Center (TUCEM). He is a visiting fellow at Shanghai University’s Center for Turkish Studies and chairman of the Turkish Chinese Business Development and Friendship Association (Türk-Çin İş Der). Türk-Çin İş Der has substantial ties to the China People's Friendship Association for Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), a Chinese organization that promotes diplomacy and increased understanding between countries using people-to-people exchanges. However, the CPAFFC functions as a United Front organization for China, aiming to enhance its influence in various countries to further its objectives.
Akfirat is a longtime member of the Turkish political party, Vatan Partisi (VP). Specifically, he is a member of the party's International Relations Bureau and acts as its representative to China. The political party styles itself as a “vanguard party” that embraces and seeks to continue the “nationalist, populist, and socialist heritage of the Turkish Revolution under a single discipline.” Furthermore, VP is considered a far-left party and is the successor to the İşçi Partisi (IP) that was banned in 2015 by the Constitutional Court. The party supports strong relations with anti-imperialist countries, such as North Korea, and delegations have traveled to the country, with the most recent trip occurring in 2018. However, there are no indications that Akfirat was with the delegations that traveled to North Korea. He was also heavily involved in establishing several publications that predate the IP's establishment, based on an article about the history of its newsletter, Aydinlik. Akfirat is likely one of the founding members of the IP based on his close associations with the Aydinlik and other individuals during the 1980s and early 1990s. He also tried in at least one court case along side the current VP Chairman, Doğu Perinçek, in the 1971 related to the creation of the Revolutionary Workers' and Peasants' Party of Turkey.
Calvin Chua
Calvin Chua is a member of KFA, an Associate Professor of Practice at Singapore University of Technology and Design, and the founder of Spatial Anatomy. Spatial Anatomy is a Singapore-based company that specializes in design consultancy, strategic research, feasibility studies, and project management. However, Chua is also the Associate Program Head at Chosen Exchange, a Singapore-based program that seeks to bring “dynamic young professionals and entrepreneurs to North Korea as volunteers to train an emerging generation of entrepreneurs and businesspeople” in the country. Chosen Exchange provides sponsorship to North Koreans for various overseas trips and programs, exposing them to fields such as economic policy and financial sector development. The entity seeks to create the first generation of modern startups in the isolated country and to help break down walls by tapping into cultural and knowledge exchanges. Chosen Exchange also creates reports on North Korea’s economic policy and investment laws, as well as analysis on political or social issues that relate to North Korea.
Chua likely has not traveled to North Korea based on examination of his Facebook and Instagram profiles. However, it should be noted that Chua lived in South Korea from March 2022 to February 2023 and in Madrid, Spain, for approximately four years from 2014 to 2018. Chua could have met with the President of the KFA, Alejandro Cao de Benós, and attended gatherings of the organization during the time he spent in Spain, but it cannot be definitely determined.
Indicators of KFA Association
Below is a list of organizations and emails that may provide indication that the individual is a member of KFA. However, it should be noted that the list is not inclusive, and it does not provide definitive proof that the individuals are associated with North Korea’s illicit activities or networks.
Political Parties/Trade Unions
Kilusang Mayo Uno/Kilusang Mayo Uno KMU
Location: Philippines
Email: kilusangmayouno@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kilusangmayouno
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kilusangmayouno
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kilusang-uno-81a80632
X: https://x.com/kilusangmayouno
Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) is a Quezon City, Philippines-based labor union that is led by Jerome Adonis. The organization advocates for workers’ rights and against foreign domination of the Philippines. KMU is fairly active on social media and actively maintains its website. The trade union is leftist and anti-imperialist in terms of ideology and politics.
UMA Pilipinas
Location: Quezon City, Philippines
Email: uma.pilipinas@gmail.com
X: https://x.com/UMApilipinas
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uma.phl/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umapilipinas/
LinkedIn: N/A
UMA Pilipinas is a federation of trade federations, associations, organizations, and unions for agricultural workers in the Philippines. The organization exhibits leftist leanings and maintains close ties with the KMU and other Philippine labor trade unions.
Vatan Partisi INT
Location: Turkey
Email: international@vatanpartisi.org.tr
X: https://x.com/VatanParty_INT
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Vatan-Partisi-Turkey-International-100066736084578/
Instagram: N/A
LinkedIn: N/A
X: https://x.com/VatanParty_INT
Vatan Partisi INT is VP’s International Relations Bureau.
Oncu Genclik
Location: Turkey
Email: oncu.genclik@vatanpartisi.org.tr
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VatanPartisiOncuGenclik/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oncugenclik/
LinkedIn: N/A
X: https://x.com/OncuGenclik
Oncu Genclik (Pioneer Youth) is VP’s youth branch.
North Korea Associations or .kp/edu.pk Emails
Below is a short list of emails that have the North Korean internet domain or are associated in some way with entities linked to the country. It should be noted that the emails are not inclusive, and they do not provide definitive proof that the individuals are associated with North Korea’s illicit activities or networks.
dmw@star-co.net.kp
chollima.lanka.korea@gmail.com
geoffrey.see@chosonexchange.org (Text is likely corrupted)
KFA Chapter Emails
Below is a chart that shows the 26 KFA chapter emails that are associated with their respective country. The emails are divided by their respective country and region. Europe has the most KFA chapter emails (9), followed by North and Latin America (8), with Africa and Asia having four chapter emails. The KFA Palestine chapter email is the only one associated with the Middle East/North Africa region.
Below is a list of the KFA chapter emails that is separated by region in alphabetical order.
Europe:
bulgaria@korea-dpr.com
finland@korea-dpr.com
france@korea-dprk.com
greece@korea-dpr.com
germany@korea-dpr.com
italy@korea-dpr.com
portugal@korea-dpr.com
sweden@korea-dpr.com
swisskfa@gmail.com
Africa:
ethiopia@korea-dpr.com
ghana@korea-dpr.com
kenya@korea-dpr.com
zimbabwe@korea-dpr.com
Asia:
korea@korea-dpr.com
india@korea-dpr.com
cambodia@korea-dpr.com
australia@korea-dpr.com
North/Latin America:
argentina@korea-dpr.com
bolivia@korea-dpr.com
brazil@korea-dpr.com
canada@korea-dpr.com
chile@korea-dpr.com
colombia@korea-dpr.com
elsalvador@korea-dpr.com
mexico@korea-dpr.com
Middle East/North Africa:
palestine@korea-dpr.com
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Do you do these sorts of analyses on foreign nationals in other countries who are actively recruited by US NGOs and front organizations for the purpose of influencing thei internal elections and foreign policies of their countries?
Thought not...
It strikes me like a large percentage of so-called "OSINT experts" are heavily US patriotic - which, given the real nature of corrupt US geopolitical intentions and behavior, makes them idiots.