Retired NBA star Dennis Rodman arrives in Beijing, speaking briefly to a scrum of awaiting reporters where he thanked North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for allowing him to grace his presence.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER NBA BASKETBALL PLAYER DENNIS RODMAN, SAYING:

"It's amazing that I had the opportunity just to go to North Korea and for the Marshall to give me an opportunity just to be in his presence in the city. This is not a bad deal. I want people in the world, not just America, in the world - I love my country America, I love it. I'll never trade it for nothing in the world - but in the world, I want to show people that no matter what's going on in the world, for one day, just one day, not politics, not all this stuff. I'm sorry about all the people that's gone, I'm sorry. I'm not the president, I'm not an ambassador, I'm Dennis Rodman, just an individual, just showing the world a fact that we can actually get along and be happy for one day. I'd love to see it, I'd lov