Dennis Rodman, the flamboyant ex-NBA star who seems to have struck up a surprising friendship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has just departed the reclusive nation.
Dennis Rodman, the flamboyant ex-NBA star who seems to have struck up a surprising friendship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has just departed the reclusive nation.
While Rodman did not meet Kim—or hold his baby—as he did on a previous visit, there is some great photographic evidence of some of his activities in one of the world’s most repressed nations.
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Rodman’s primary task was “training” North Korean basketball players ahead of a planned game, featuring 12 former NBA players, that would mark Kim’s birthday January 8.
Such basketball-related images have been widely circulated, but a look at Tweets posted by Michael Spavor, a Canadian business consultant who has assisted Rodman in visiting the country during previous visits, shows a bit more of Rodman’s trip.
While the 6 foot, 7-inch Rodman towered over most people he met in Pyongyang, “The Worm” actually encountered someone who made him look short: 7 foot, 8 1/2-inch tall North Korean Ri Myong-hun, an ex-basketball player who was once the world’s tallest man.
Mr. Rodman, Ri Myoung Hoon (Michael Lee) and some of the London and Beijing Olympic medalists pic.twitter.com/isBUWpZP9k
— Michael (@mpspavor) December 21, 2013
Rodman also did some horse riding:
Mounting a horse. #Rodman #paddypower #dprk pic.twitter.com/KWnlfbFgYi — Michael (@mpspavor) December 22, 2013
And met an archery team:
활쏘기장 Group picture with the 4.25 #archery team, Dennis, Joe, Rory and me. #rodman #dprk #sports pic.twitter.com/yumUJz4M3F — Michael (@mpspavor) December 22, 2013
Rodman visited the Koryo Hotel…
…and a water park:
#rodman #paddypower #swim pic.twitter.com/F4mmm1NwuO — Michael (@mpspavor) December 21, 2013
Rodman showed off his local sartorial sense, too, getting decked out in what appeared to be a North Korean-style suit—and a Boston Red Sox baseball cap:
pic.twitter.com/IRvCWVwoJL
— Michael (@mpspavor) December 20, 2013
