Rodman heads back to N. Korea for exhibition game on leader's birthday

19:24, 6 January 2014

BEIJING. January 6. KAZINFORM - Former NBA star Dennis Rodman departed for Pyongyang on Monday, along with a team of ex-NBA All Stars, for an exhibition basketball game marking the birthday of leader Kim Jong-un.

Rodman led the team that includes former NBA stars Kenny Anderson, Cliff Robinson and Vin Baker and boarded an Air Koryo flight in Beijing. "I'm not a politician. I'm not an ambassador," Rodman told reporters when asked about North Korea's dismal human rights situation. Rodman said this week's trip to North Korea is mainly for the Wednesday exhibition game for Kim's birthday, but "When the time is come, I will talk to him."

Rodman, who has boasted of having a personal friendship with the North Korean leader, called Kim his "friend for life."

Rodman is the highest profile American to meet Kim since he took power after his father died in late 2011. His previous trip last December was unaffected by the stunning execution of Kim's once-powerful uncle, Jang Song-thaek. Source: Yonhap News Agency

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