Promising unprecedented access to North Korea, the pro-Pyongyang Korean Friendship Association (KFA) is charging significantly marked-up fees for bringing film-makers, artists and tourists to the country, sources familiar with the organization and its operations told NK News.

Despite lauding North Korea's socialist credentials on its website, information obtained by NK News shows that the fees charged by the KFA for facilitating film and art projects in North Korea frequently range well above 50,000 euros (a little more than $60,000) – an amount other sources in the North Korea travel industry said leaves the KFA with a profit margin well beyond what is warranted.