The Mole: Undercover in North Korea (2020) on Netflix
NR20202h 3mDocumentaryThriller
Ulrich Larsen, a former chef on benefits, spends years posing as a loyal supporter inside the Korean Friendship Association. A man posing as an investor joins the approach to North Korea.
- Netflix4.1/5
- IMDb8.2/106,368 votes
- Rotten TomatoesNot available
Trailer
Plot summary
Ulrich Larsen is a Danish former chef who retired early because of chronic inflammation of the pancreas and lives on government benefits. After watching a documentary series about North Korea, he joins the Korean Friendship Association and spends more than ten years posing as a loyal supporter of the regime. He rises through the organization in Denmark and becomes its Scandinavian delegate, filming meetings on the pretense of posting them to social media. He wins the trust of Alejandro Cao de Benós, the association's president and a special representative of North Korea's Foreign Ministry, who speaks of finding investors willing to put money into the country despite sanctions. A man posing as an investor, Mr. James, is brought in to meet him. A former MI5 officer, Annie Machon, debriefs the two men.
Cast
- Hisham Al-Dasouqias Self - Enterprise Architect
- Kim Ryong Cholas Self - President Narae Trading Co.
- Anders Kristensenas Self - Chairman Friendship Association DK-DPRK
- Otto Warmbieras Self - US Exchange Student (archive footage)
- Ri Won-Gukas Self - DPRK Ambassador Sweden
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about The Mole: Undercover in North Korea (2020)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- Korean Friendship Association president Alejandro Cao de Benos claimed he was just acting, playing along with Mr James' plans to deal weapons and drugs; in 2022 a federal arrest warrant was issued in the United States District Court, Southern District of New York, charging him with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
- Larsen lives in a Copenhagen suburb with his wife and children, who did not know about his 10-year-long double life while it was going on.
- Since making contact with the North Korean regime, Ulrich Larsen and his family have been living in a personal protection program.
