The despot and The Worm: Remembering Dennis Rodman’s strange North Korea odyssey



Features The despot and The Worm: Remembering Dennis Rodman’s strange North Korea odyssey Ten years on, the eccentric NBA star’s friendship with Kim Jong Un stands as one of stranger chapters in DPRK history Oliver Jia February 27, 2023 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON Dennis Rodman with Kim Jong Un during the North Korean leader's birthday on Jan. 8, 2014 \| Image: Choson Sinbo (Jan. 10, 2014) Before Donald Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to hold a summit with North Korea, America’s relationship with the Kim regime was practically nonexistent. The so-called Leap Day agreement of 2012 fell apart in dramatic fashion, and the Obama administration all but gave up on diplomacy with Pyongyang. Into this extreme hostility between the two countries entered one of the most unlikely of intermediaries — former basketball player Dennis Rodman. Before Donald Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to hold a summit with North Korea, America’s relationship with the Kim regime was practically nonexistent. The so-called Leap Day agreement of 2012 fell apart in dramatic fashion, and the Obama administration all but gave up on diplomacy with Pyongyang. Into this extreme hostility between the two countries entered one of the most unlikely of intermediaries — former basketball player Dennis Rodman. Try unlimited access Only $1 for four weeks Unlimited access to all of NK News: reporting, investigations, analysis Year-one discount if you continue past $1 trial period The NK News Daily Update, an email newsletter to keep you in the loop Searchable archive of all content, photo galleries, special columns Contact NK News reporters with tips or requests for reporting Get unlimited access to all NK News content, including original reporting, investigations, and analyses by our team of DPRK experts. Subscribe now All major cards accepted. No commitments – you can cancel any time. © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by And how should we address you in correspondence? One more step! Please check your inbox, for an email we just sent you, and click on the confirmation message in it to get subscribed to our Daily News Update. Trending

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The despot and The Worm: Remembering Dennis Rodman’s strange North Korea odyssey

Ten years on, the eccentric NBA star’s friendship with Kim Jong Un stands as one of stranger chapters in DPRK history

Oliver Jia February 27, 2023

The despot and The Worm: Remembering Dennis Rodman’s strange North Korea odyssey

Dennis Rodman with Kim Jong Un during the North Korean leader's birthday on Jan. 8, 2014 | Image: Choson Sinbo (Jan. 10, 2014)

Before Donald Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to hold a summit with North Korea, America’s relationship with the Kim regime was practically nonexistent. The so-called Leap Day agreement of 2012 fell apart in dramatic fashion, and the Obama administration all but gave up on diplomacy with Pyongyang.

Into this extreme hostility between the two countries entered one of the most unlikely of intermediaries — former basketball player Dennis Rodman.

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The despot and The Worm: Remembering Dennis Rodman’s strange North Korea odyssey

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