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Rodman to Return to North Korea Amid Political Upheaval Rodman to Return to North Korea Amid Political Upheaval
(about 4 hours later)
Dennis Rodman’s trip to North Korea to help train the country’s basketball stars has not been disrupted by the political convulsions there, notably the execution of the leader’s uncle last week for treason and debauchery, the Irish online betting company sponsoring the visit said Tuesday. Dennis Rodman’s trip to North Korea to help train the country’s basketball stars has not been disrupted by the political convulsions there, notably the execution of the leader’s uncle last week on charges of treason and debauchery, the Irish online betting company sponsoring the visit said Tuesday.
Mr. Rodman, who won five N.B.A. championships with the Detroit Pistons and the Chicago Bulls, would arrive in Beijing later in the day and then travel to North Korea on Thursday with a documentary film crew, Rory Scott, a spokesman for the company, Paddy Power of Dublin, said in a telephone interview from Beijing. Mr. Scott said they would leave North Korea on Monday. Mr. Rodman, who won five N.B.A. championships with the Detroit Pistons and the Chicago Bulls, was to arrive in Beijing later in the day and then travel to North Korea on Thursday with a documentary film crew, Rory Scott, a spokesman for the company, Paddy Power of Dublin, said in a telephone interview from Beijing. Mr. Scott said they would leave North Korea on Monday.
“We spoke to a lot of experts who said it’s safe for foreigners to travel to North Korea,” he said.“We spoke to a lot of experts who said it’s safe for foreigners to travel to North Korea,” he said.
Mr. Rodman visited North Korea this past winter and befriended its leader, Kim Jong-un, 30, a fan of American basketball. Mr. Rodman was one of the first Westerners to ever meet Mr. Kim after he took power two years ago upon the death of his father, Kim Jong-il. Mr. Rodman visited North Korea this past winter and befriended its leader, Kim Jong-un, 30, a fan of American basketball. Mr. Rodman was one of the first Westerners to meet Mr. Kim after he took power two years ago upon the death of his father, Kim Jong-il.
The plan for Mr. Rodman to revisit had been made before the abrupt change in North Korea’s politics, culminating in the announcement Thursday that Kim Jong-un’s uncle, Jang Song-thaek, who had long been considered the No. 2 leader, had been executed for charges that included plotting a coup, womanizing, gambling and drug abuse. The plan for Mr. Rodman to make another visit had been made before the abrupt change in North Korea’s leadership, culminating in the announcement Thursday that Kim Jong-un’s uncle, Jang Song-thaek, who had long been considered the No. 2 leader, had been executed over accusations that included plotting a coup, womanizing, gambling and drug abuse.
Mr. Jang’s abrupt downfall and the unusual publicity given to it by the secretive North Korean government have created intense speculation of a political power struggle that could make the hermetic country more unstable and unpredictable. Mr. Jang’s abrupt downfall and the unusual publicity given to it by the secretive North Korean government have created intense speculation about a political power struggle that could make the hermetic country more unstable and unpredictable.
The United States, which has no diplomatic relations with North Korea, had already advised that no Americans should travel there, after the arrest of an 85-year-old Korean War veteran who had visited North Korea in October. The veteran, Merrill E. Newman of Palo Alto, Calif., was released and repatriated this month. Another American, Kenneth Bae, remains incarcerated in North Korea, arrested in November 2012 and convicted of hostile acts for Christian missionary work. The United States, which has no diplomatic relations with North Korea, had already advised that no Americans should travel there after the arrest of an 85-year-old Korean War veteran who visited North Korea in October. The veteran, Merrill E. Newman of Palo Alto, Calif., was released and returned home this month. Another American, Kenneth Bae, remains incarcerated in North Korea, arrested in November 2012 and convicted of hostile acts for Christian missionary work.
North Korea held a huge gathering in an indoor stadium in Pyongyang on Tuesday where top party and military officials made speeches vowing to uphold Kim Jong-un as their unchallenged top leader following the purge and execution of Mr. Kim’s uncle, Jang Song-thaek. North Korea held a huge gathering in an indoor stadium in Pyongyang on Tuesday where top party and military officials made speeches vowing to uphold Kim Jong-un as their unchallenged top leader after the execution of Mr. Kim’s uncle.
The execution of Mr. Jang, widely believed to have been the No. 2 man in the North, raised questions about the self-image North Korea has tried to build for decades as a country single-mindedly united around Mr. Kim. Analysts and officials in the region suspected that the execution may reflect factional infighting within the opaque family dynasty in Pyongyang. North Korea staged the gathering on Tuesday to commemorate the second anniversary of the death of Mr. Kim’s father, the longtime dictator Kim Jong-il. But it also used the event to tell its people and the outside world that Kim Jong-un was firmly in control, analysts said.
North Korea staged the gathering on Tuesday to commemorate the second anniversary of the death of Mr. Kim’s father, the longtime dictator Kim Jong-il. But it also used the event to tell its people and the outside world that Mr. Kim was firmly in control, analysts said.
The meeting was the first major national event that Mr. Kim presided over since Mr. Jang’s execution last Thursday. He sat center stage on the raised platform flanked by top party and military leaders beneath a huge red flag emblazoned with a picture of his smiling father.The meeting was the first major national event that Mr. Kim presided over since Mr. Jang’s execution last Thursday. He sat center stage on the raised platform flanked by top party and military leaders beneath a huge red flag emblazoned with a picture of his smiling father.
Throughout the nationally televised one-hour ceremony, he was grim-faced and silent while senior officials made speeches paying homage to his father and vowing fealty to him.Throughout the nationally televised one-hour ceremony, he was grim-faced and silent while senior officials made speeches paying homage to his father and vowing fealty to him.
“Our revolutionary armed forces know no one except our supreme commander, Comrade Kim Jong-un,” said Vice Marshal Choe Ryong-hae in his speech. “No matter what happens, we will uphold only one man, our supreme commander.” “Our revolutionary armed forces know no one except our supreme commander, Comrade Kim Jong-un,” Vice Marshal Choe Ryong-hae said in his speech. “No matter what happens, we will uphold only one man, our supreme commander.”
Conspicuously absent in the memorial service was Mr. Jang’s wife, Kim Kyong-hui, an aunt of Mr. Kim. But analysts believed that she has survived her husband’s purge as the North’s state media cited her name in leadership lists. Conspicuously absent at the memorial service was Mr. Jang’s wife, Kim Kyong-hui, an aunt of Mr. Kim. But analysts believe she has survived her husband’s purge, as the North’s state media has cited her name in leadership lists.

Rick Gladstone reported from New York and Choe Sang-hun reported from Seoul, South Korea.

Rick Gladstone reported from New York and Choe Sang-hun reported from Seoul, South Korea.