Rodman arrives in Beijing after N. Korea visit without detained American
By KH디지털2Published : Sept. 7, 2013 - 12:03
Retired NBA star Dennis Rodman arrived in Beijing on Saturday, wrapping up his second trip to North Korea, but without a detained American citizen.
Speaking to reporters at Beijing's airport en route to the United States, Rodman said he spoke with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un about "peace, sports ... and my team and their team in North Korea."
Rodman said Kim is "a friend for my life."
When repeatedly asked by reporters about the fate of the detained American Kenneth Bae, Rodman shouted, "You should ask it to Mr. Obama."
Rodman met with Kim during his first visit in March at a time when tensions on the Korean Peninsula were high following the North's third nuclear test in February.
Last week, North Korea rescinded an invitation to a senior U.S. diplomat, who had planned to visit the communist nation to secure the release of Bae, a 45-year-old Korean-American man serving a prison term there.
North Korea blamed the U.S. for the cancellation of the visit by Amb. Robert King, citing a joint military drill between South Korea and the U.S. (Yonhap News)