Dennis Rodman returns from North Korea without Kenneth Bae
| Beijing
Former US basketball star听听returned on Saturday from his second visit to听听this year where he again met the reclusive country's leader听, but did not come back with jailed American missionary听.
The flamboyant former NBA star's visit came after听听abruptly withdrew its invitation to听, the US special envoy on North Korean human rights issues, who was expected to head to听听in a bid to secure Bae's release.
Bae, 45, was sentenced to hard labour for 15 years in May for crimes against the state. He had been arrested in November after entering the North with a tour group and his health has been deteriorating since he was imprisoned.
Though there had been speculations that during听Rodman's visit the detained American would be released, he said ahead of his visit he was going for "another basketball diplomacy tour."
Wearing his trademark dark sunglasses, the 6-foot 7-inch听Rodman听emerged at听, a common waystation for travelers to and from听, with an unlit cigar in his mouth.
"That's not my job to ask about听. Ask Obama about that. Ask Hillary Clinton," he told a throng of reporters.
Kim and听Rodman听spent quality time together by having dinner and watching a basketball game during听Rodman's five-day trip, the North's KCNA news agency reported.
The report added Kim warmly welcomed听Rodman听and had a "cordial talk".听Rodman听reportedly expressed his thanks to the leader for spending time with him, saying Kim's greeting is "an expression of good faith towards the Americans".
Rodman听showed reporters in Beijing pictures of him meeting Kim, and said he had given Kim a gift of his Bad Boy vodka, which "he loved".
"He is my friend for life. I don't care what you guys think about him. I don't give a shit about what people around the world think about him," he added.
Rodman's latest trip was sponsored by Irish bookmaker Paddy Power.
Kim, the third of his line to rule听, is a basketball fan and appeared to get along well with听Rodman听on the earlier visit, with the two of them pictured laughing, eating and drinking together and watching an all-star basketball match.
Rodman听first visited听听earlier this year at a time when听听was threatening the听,听and听听with missile strikes.
