If you were like me and woke this morning to the sight of Dennis Rodman wearing a cannabis t-shirt while making another trip to North Korea, don’t worry, you were not alone in thinking “What in the hell?”
It turns out the NBA Hall of Famer is headed back to North Korea today on the dime of PotCoin, the cryptocurrency company for the cannabis industry. Sporting a baseball cap, sunglasses, and a black T-Shirt with a prominent PotCoin.com logo on it, Rodman was greeted in Pyongyang’s airport by sports vice-minister Son Kwang Ho and journalists.
Basketball star Dennis Rodman is back in North Korea to “open the door” and see his “friend” Kim Jong-Un pic.twitter.com/32EWrKRUdx
— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) June 13, 2017
The trip marks Rodman’s fifth to North Korea. It has been widely reported that Rodman and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un are good friends.
“I’m really looking forward to spending time with the wonderful people of North Korea and of course, visiting with the Supreme Leader, Kim Jong Un,” Rodman said. “I want to thank the folks at PotCoin, they realized the importance of this trip and made it all possible for me.”
Rodman told reporters in China that he is trying to get sports into the country.
“I’m just trying to open the door,” the eccentric ex-Chicago Bulls power forward told reporters at Beijing airport before boarding his Air Koryo flight.
Former NBA player Dennis Rodman has arrived in North Korea on his first visit since Pres. Trump took office: https://t.co/u4bDiJ8AiGpic.twitter.com/eFBjiLtcgu
— CBS News (@CBSNews) June 13, 2017
When asked whether he had spoken with President Trump about his trip, Rodman said: “I’m pretty sure he’s pretty much happy with the fact that I’m over here trying to accomplish something that we both need.”
This latest visit comes amid high tensions between the United States and Pyongyang — which is currently holding three Americans — following a series of missile tests by the North, which have triggered tightened UN sanctions.
Just this morning, North Korea released US citizen Otto Warmbier from prison by airlift, as it is reported that he was in a coma for over a year while in prison.
