Kim Jong Un (L) talks with Dennis Rodman at a dinner party held during Rodman’s visit to the DPRK (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).
Kim Jong Un (3rd R) watches a men’s basketball game between the 25 April Team and the Amnokgang Teams with retired NBA player Dennis Rodman (4th). Also in attendance is Ri Sol Ju (2nd R), Kim Jong Un’s wife (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).
DPRK state media reported on 6 September (Friday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) met with retired National Basketball Association [NBA] player Dennis Rodman. Also in attendance was Kim Jong Un’s wife Ri Sol Ju (Ri So’l-chu) Kim Jong Un’s last observed appearance was his inspection of the Ryongyon Sea Fish Breeding Station. According to KCNA Kim Jong Un greeted Rodman “as a friend” and told Rodman “might visit the DPRK any time and spend pleasant days, having a rest.” According to KCNA, Rodman said he was “very grateful to Kim Jong Un for sparing a precious time to meet him and his party despite his tight schedule” and that “this is an expression of good faith towards the Americans.” Rodman also said “he was fortunate to revisit the DPRK” due to his friendship with Kim Jong Un and he “evinced his will to contribute to boosting diverse sports and cultural exchange with the DPRK.”
Dennis Rodman then presented a series of gifts, including basketballs, a Chicago Bulls jersey and bottles of liquor to Kim Jong Un. Kim Jong Un, Ri Sol Ju, Dennis Rodman and his entourage then watched a men’s basketball game between the 25 April Team of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] and the Amnokgang Team of the Ministry of People’s Security. Kim Jong Un then hosted a dinner party for Rodman. According to KCNA, Rodman expressed “his heartfelt thanks to Kim Jong Un for spending a lot of time for him and his party” and he said he “would remember this visit as an unforgettable beautiful memory all his life.”
Dennis Rodman arrived in the DPRK on 3 September along with Christopher Volo, a manger at his sports marketing firm Prince Marketing Group, Michael Spavor of Pyongyang Project, among others. Rodman left the country on 7 September.
Kim Jong Un shakes hands with retired NBA player Dennis Rodman and members of Rodman’s travel party (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).
Dennis Rodman presents a basketball to Kim Jong Un (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).
Kim Jong Un (L) talks with Dennis Rodman (R) at a dinner party held for Rodman and his entourage (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).
Filed under: 2013 Dennis Rodman/Harlem Globetrotters Visit, 25 April Sports Group, 25 April Sports Group (25 April National Defense Sports Group), Administration Department, Amnokgang Sports Team, Central Committee, DPRK basketball, DPRK Cabinet, DPRK External Relations, DPRK-US Relations, Events Management Section, Guard Command, Jang Song-thaek, Kim Chong-un inspections, Kim Family, Kim Jong-un, KJI Personal Secretariat, Korean People's Army (KPA), Korean People's Internal Security Forces, Korean Workers' Party (KWP), KPA General Political Bureau, KPA General Political Department, KPA supernumerary organizations, kpif, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Trade, ministry of people's security, Ministry of Physical Culture and Sports, Ministry of State Security, Ministry of the People's Armed Forces (MPAF), MPAF GPB, MPS Foreign Affairs Department, National Defense Commission (NDC), North Korean press, primary party committees, Propaganda and Agitation Department, Ri Jong Mu (Physical Culture and Sports Minister), September 2013 Dennis Rodman visit, Son Kwang Ho (Physical Culture and Sports), State Physical Culture and Sports Commission, State Security Department