Dennis Rodman Returns to North Korea, Wants to 'Bring Countries Together'

(Reuters)

Dennis Rodman must've really enjoyed his last trip to North Korea, because the former NBA player has already made his way back, reports the Associated Press.

Landing in Pyongyang Thursday morning, Rodman is reportedly visiting to help train North Korea's national basketball team. En route to his destination, he also announced to reporters in Beijing that he planned to finalize arrangements for an exhibition basketball game in honor of supreme leader Kim Jong Un's birthday on January 8, when Rodman returns with a roster of 12 as-yet-unnamed professional players from America.

"I hope this game brings a lot of countries together, because as I said, sports [are] so important to people around the world," Rodman remarked. "So I hope this is going to engage American people, especially Obama, to just to try to talk to them."

Rodman's current visit comes just days after Kim Jong Un's uncle, Jang Song Thaek, was executed for reportedly betraying his country.

Despite this, Rodman claims that he does not fear for his safety in the presence of Kim Jong Un, whom Rodman has called a "very good guy" in the past.

This is Rodman's third visit to North Korea following trips earlier this year in February and September.