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Dennis Rodman apologises for Kenneth Bae comments Dennis Rodman sorry for comments on jailed Korean-American Kenneth Bae
(about 3 hours later)
Retired US basketball star Dennis Rodman was reported to be on board a helicopter bound for North Korean ski resort on Thursday, possibly along with Kim Jong-un, as his advisers fought to contain public outrage sparked by the star's controversial behaviour during his fourth visit to the totalitarian state. The retired US basketball star Dennis Rodman visited a North Korean ski resort with Kim Jong-un as a statement was issued on Rodman's behalf apologising for comments he made about an American jailed by Pyongyang.
Rodman apologised on Thursday for comments suggesting that Kenneth Bae, a Korean-American man currently serving a 15-year hard labour sentence in North Korea, deserved his fate, saying he had been drinking when he made the remarks to CNN. The former player, 52, took a helicopter on Thursday to a new multimillion-pound resort which is one of Kim's showcase projects and which has been condemned as a waste of money in a country where most people are malnourished.
Rodman has come under sharp criticism during his current visit to North Korea because of the positive comments he has made about its leader, Kim Jong-un, and apparent failure to acknowledge the country's abysmal human rights record. That criticism intensified following a CNN interview on Tuesday, during which he was asked if he would bring up Bae's fate during his trip. A rambling Rodman said: "If you understand what Kenneth Bae did," adding: "Do you understand what he did in this country? Why is he held captive in this country?" Rodman's visit to North Korea, his fourth, has drawn criticism from human rights activists and the family of an imprisoned US missionary, Kenneth Bae, after Rodman appeared to suggest in an interview peppered with obscenities that Bae, rather than the North Korean authorities, was responsible for his incarceration.
On Wednesday he led a group of retired National Basketball Association players in an exhibition game against a team of North Koreans in Pyongyang. Before the game, he serenaded the dictator by singing: "Happy Birthday, Dear Marshal". He has previously praised Kim as a "friend for life". Rodman's public relations firm issued a statement attributed to him apologising for the comments and saying he had been drinking on a stressful day.
Shortly before his departure to the Kim's luxury showcase resort, however, Rodman issued an unequivocal apology for his comments about Bae. An email send to the Associated Press through his publicist state: "I take full responsibility for my actions. It had been a very stressful day. Some of my teammates were leaving because of pressure from their families and business associates. My dreams of basketball diplomacy was quickly falling apart. I had been drinking. It's not an excuse but by the time the interview happened I was upset." It was not possible to verify with the company whether Rodman had seen the statement as it did not reply to email or telephone inquiries.
He continued: "I want to first apologise to Kenneth Bae's family. I want to apologise to my teammates and my management team. I embarrassed a lot of people. I'm very sorry. At this point I should know better than to make political statements. I'm truly sorry." "I want to apologise. I take full responsibility," Rodman was quoted by CNN as saying in the statement. "I embarrassed a lot of people. I'm very sorry. At this point I should know better than to make political statements. I'm truly sorry."
Bae's family had reacted with fury to the former NBA star's initial comments. In a statement, the captive's sister, Terri Chung, said: "There is nothing diplomatic about his trip." Bae's sister, Terri Chung, has said her family was outraged by Rodman's comments and he should use his access to the North Korean leader to advocate on Bae's behalf, rather than "hurl outrageous accusations".
"My family and I are outraged by Rodman's recent comments. He is playing games with my brother's life. There is no diplomacy, only games, and at my brother's expense," she added. "He is playing games with my brother's life," Chung said in a statement.
Chung and other members of Bae's family could not be reached for comment about Rodman's expressions of regret. Bae, 45, was sentenced to 15 years' hard labour for state subversion in North Korea, where he was detained in 2012 while leading a tour group. The supreme court said he had used his tourism business to form groups aimed at overthrowing the government.
Despite his public contrition, Rodman was sticking to his whirlwind tour of North Korea and appearing publicly with Kim. On Wednesday, Rodman led a chorus singing Happy Birthday to the leader of the isolated and heavily sanctioned country at a basketball match that Kim attended with his wife.
Rodman is visiting the country just weeks after Kim's uncle, Jang Song-thaek, was executed for what state media said was his involvement in an attempted coup. Observers of North Korean affairs said the execution was probably rooted in Kim's attempts to consolidate power and his anger over his uncle's efforts to enrich himself. North Korean state media said the song reflected Rodman's "reverence" for Kim, and that he had organised the game as a birthday present, confirming for the first time the leader's date of birth. He is believed to be 31.
South Korean officials estimate the ski resort Rodman is currently visiting cost hundreds of millions of dollars to build. North Korea aims to make $43.75m (£26.5m) in annual profit from the resort, according to documents prepared for potential foreign investors, and expects up to 5,000 skiers to visit a day. Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of North Korea's ruling Workers party, dedicated its front page to coverage of the basketball game and published photos of Kim sitting and laughing with Rodman.
"Dennis Rodman said he was overjoyed and teared up when he met the Dear Respected Marshal again," the newspaper said.
Rodman's trips had been financed by the Irish bookmaker Paddy Power, which has withdrawn its funding.
It is not known whether Rodman has the capacity to fund another trip. North Korea rarely pays for this kind of visit, according to experts on the country.
Rodman has described Kim, who has been in power for just over two years, as his friend.
Kim has presided over two long-range rocket launches – banned under UN sanctions because of Pyongyang's nuclear weapons proliferation efforts – and a nuclear test. Last year he threatened to attack South Korea, Japan and the US.
His uncle, Jang Song-thaek, was executed last month in one of the biggest and most public purges undertaken in North Korea, which has been ruled by the same family for three generations.
Jang is just one of hundreds of thousands who have faced death or imprisonment in North Korea. An estimated 150,000-200,000 people are in political prisons and forced labour camps, according to rights activists.
Defectors have testified to summary executions and rampant human rights abuses. They say they have been starved, beaten and abused in work camps where many die and that babies born in the camps are killed.
While North Koreans suffer from food shortages and malnutrition, according to UN assessments, Kim has pushed ahead with big building projects such as the Masik ski resort that Rodman visited.
South Korean officials estimate it cost hundreds of millions of pounds to build and North Korea aims to make $43.75m (£27m) in annual profit from the resort, according to documents prepared for potential foreign investors. It expects up to 5,000 skiers to visit per day.
Pictures released at the resort opening late last year showed just one chair lift and an assortment of snow equipment that appeared to have been imported despite a UN ban on the export of luxury goods to North Korea.
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