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| Dennis Rodman sorry for comments on jailed Korean-American Kenneth Bae | Dennis Rodman sorry for comments on jailed Korean-American Kenneth Bae |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| 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. | 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, 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'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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| "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." Reuters Seoul at a basketball match that Kim attended with his wife. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. | "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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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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