PYONGYANG, Jan. 7-- Former U.S. National Basketball Association (NBA) star Dennis Rodman has arrived here for his fourth trip within a year to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Rodman, along with a team of retired professional basketball players, is reportedly in the capital for an exhibition game on Wednesday to mark the birthday of DPRK's top leader, Kim Jong Un.

The retired player told reporters at Beijing's capital airport that Kim is a "nice guy, to me" and that he and his friends were just there for a game.

"Whatever he (Kim) does political-wise, that's not my job. I'm just an athlete, an individual who wants to go over there and play something for the world," Rodman said.

Rodman last travelled to the DPRK less than a month ago to help train the country's national basketball team for the exhibition game between the DPRK team and ex-NBA players.

Ahead of his third trip to the DPRK's capital city of Pyongyang, Rodman referred to Kim as his "friend for life." He also described him as "an awesome guy" on his first trip to the country in February.

The U.S. State Department said in December that Rodman does not represent the U.S. government.