Related: Insight of DPRK's "basketball diplomacy'"
PYONGYANG, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Former NBA star Dennis Rodman praised the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Friday as "an awesome guy" who has the love of his people.
"The Korean people are amazing, they are considerable and awesome," Rodman told Xinhua at Pyongyang airport before ending his four-day trip to the country.
Kim Jong Un "is like his grandfather and his father, who are great leaders, he is an awesome kid, very honest and loves his wife so much," said the former Chicago Bulls' star.
Rodman said he wanted to bring more of his friends to the DPRK to meet Kim, saying: "Do not hate people, life is not about that."
When asked about how his trip would contribute to relations between the DPRK and the United States, he said: "About the relationship, no one man can do anything. His country and his people love him. I love him, he is an awesome guy."
Rodman and Kim had an "amicable" dinner Thursday after they watched a basketball game together.
During the dinner, Kim said he expected such sports exchanges would promote "mutual understanding between peoples of the two countries."
A mixed basketball game of four visiting American players from the Harlem Globetrotters and 12 Korean players took place at Ryugyong Jong Ju Yong Gymnasium on Thursday.
Rodman, wearing dark glasses and a hat, sat side by side with Kim. The two chatted in English without a translator and laughed.
Rodman, with a film crew from the New York-based VICE media company, visited the DPRK to shoot footage for a TV show set to air on HBO late this year.
A producer from VICE told Xinhua the show was set to air on HBO early in June.
Some journalists from the HBO TV network came with the delegation to cover the trip, while foreign journalists based in Pyongyang were only allowed to meet the delegation at the airport.
Village teacher with his back basket
Feedback
RSS
