Dennis Rodman back in North Korea

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jan/06/dennis-rodman-back-in-north-korea

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Dennis Rodman has arrived back in North Korea, this time bringing with him a team of former NBA players for an exhibition game on Kim Jong-un's birthday.

Rodman travelled to Pyongyang, the capital, via Beijing with a squad of a dozen former basketball stars including Vin Baker and Cliff Robinson in what he calls "basketball diplomacy", although US officials have criticised his efforts.

"It's about trying to connect two countries together in the world, to let people know that: do you know what? Not every country in the world is that bad, especially North Korea," Rodman said in Beijing before his flight to North Korea.

"People say so many negative things about North Korea. And I want people in the world to see it's not that bad."

Defectors have repeatedly testified about the North Korean government's alleged use of indiscriminate killings, rapes, beatings and prison camps holding as many as 120,000 people deemed opponents of authoritarian leader Kim Jong-un, the third generation of his family to rule. Rodman has been criticised for his steadfast refusal to use his trips as an opportunity to discuss these issues.

Kim Jong-un recently ordered the execution of a powerful uncle who had mentored him but was deemed to have undermined the communist regime.

The US players are to compete in an exhibition game against a North Korean team on Wednesday, Kim's birthday.

"Somehow we have to get along, no matter what disagreements or what discrepancy we have in life," Rodman said. "It's like saying: why do we have the Olympics? When everyone one comes together in the Olympics there's no problems. That's what I'm doing. That's all I'm doing."

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