Former NBA player DENNIS RODMAN returned "for a visit to North Korea," according to the BBC. He is traveling as a private citizen. At the Beijing airport, Rodman said, "I'm just trying to open the door." The U.S. state department said that it is aware of his visit. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State THOMAS SHANNON added, "We wish him well. But we have issued travel warnings to Americans and suggested they not travel to North Korea for their own safety" (BBC, 6/13). The AFP reported Rodman claimed U.S. President DONALD TRUMP "would be pleased with his mission." Asked whether he had spoken with Trump about his trip, Rodman said, "I'm pretty sure he's pretty much happy with the fact that I'm over here trying to accomplish something that we both need." Rodman's trip to North Korea is "at least his fifth." It is "not clear" whether he will be meeting KIM JONG-UN during the current trip, "or what its exact purpose is." Trump called Rodman "smart" for his '13 trip to North Korea, Politico reported at the time. Trump: "Dennis is not a stupid guy. He's smart in many ways; he's very street-wise." Analyst DANIEL PINKSTON, a lecturer at Troy University, said that "he did not believe that Rodman was going as a back-channel emissary from Trump" despite U.S. "media speculation." Pinkston added, "I have high confidence that's not the case but Dennis does know Trump and he does know Kim" (AFP, 6/13). KYODO reported after disembarking from a flight in Pyongyang, Rodman was received by SON KWANG HO, one of the vice ministers of the Ministry of Physical Culture & Sports. The trip comes at a time when "four U.S. citizens are being detained for what Kim's regime calls anti-state acts." Rodman, however, said that the purpose of his visit is "not to discuss the detained citizens." Rodman: "I am pretty sure I can do something that is very positive" (KYODO, 6/13).
