Attention, Dennis Rodman: Basketball diplomacy won't change North Korea

The former NBA star is making a third trip to visit Kim Jong Un's tragic kingdom, days after Kim executed his own uncle

Kim and Rodman
(Image credit: (AP Photo/Vice Media/Jason Mojica))

On Tuesday, Irish bookmaker Paddy Power said that despite the political turmoil and bloody intrigue in North Korea, former NBA star Dennis Rodman will still visit Pyongyang this week.

"We spoke to a lot of experts who said it's safe for foreigners to travel to North Korea," Paddy Power spokesman Rory Scott tells The New York Times. He elaborated on that point to Reuters: "It's certainly safe, even when there is a bit of disruption like there is now — a bit of trouble or chaos — there's even more need for cultural or sporting exchanges."

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.