U.S. ex-basketball player Rodman visits North Korea
- 11 years ago
(ROUGH CUT ONLY - NO REPORTER NARRATION)
Former American basketball star Dennis Rodman arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday (February 26) along with other basketball players to film a television documentary.
Video, provided to Reuters by North Korea's official news agency KCNA, showed Rodman being greeted by North Korean officials at the airport.
Rodman, now 51 years old, won five NBA championships in his prime, achieving a mix of fame and notoriety for his on- and off-court antics.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) RETIRED UNITED STATES BASKETBALL PLAYER DENNIS RODMAN SAYING:
"There ain't no timing of it, just we got invited, and we're just going to come over and having some fun."
REPORTER ASKING: "Was this your first time here?"
"It's my first time, I think it's most of these guys' first time, so hopefully everything will be okay, hope the kids have a good time for the game."
VICE, based in New York, is the production company behind the documentary and has previously filmed in North Korea.
It did not disclose the topic of the TV series but said it was part of "documentary-style news reports from around the world" that would be distributed on HBO in April.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is reported to be an avid NBA fan and had pictures taken with players from the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers during his school days in Switzerland.
Former American basketball star Dennis Rodman arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday (February 26) along with other basketball players to film a television documentary.
Video, provided to Reuters by North Korea's official news agency KCNA, showed Rodman being greeted by North Korean officials at the airport.
Rodman, now 51 years old, won five NBA championships in his prime, achieving a mix of fame and notoriety for his on- and off-court antics.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) RETIRED UNITED STATES BASKETBALL PLAYER DENNIS RODMAN SAYING:
"There ain't no timing of it, just we got invited, and we're just going to come over and having some fun."
REPORTER ASKING: "Was this your first time here?"
"It's my first time, I think it's most of these guys' first time, so hopefully everything will be okay, hope the kids have a good time for the game."
VICE, based in New York, is the production company behind the documentary and has previously filmed in North Korea.
It did not disclose the topic of the TV series but said it was part of "documentary-style news reports from around the world" that would be distributed on HBO in April.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is reported to be an avid NBA fan and had pictures taken with players from the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers during his school days in Switzerland.