Dennis Rodman in North Korea for 'another round of basketball diplomacy'

Dennis Rodman has visited North Korea again for what's being described as "another round of basketball diplomacy."

The former NBA's star trip is being sponsored by PotCoin, a cryptocurrency intended to be used in order to buy and sell marijuana. Shares in the company rose rapidly following the news of its involvement.

Why Rodman is visiting the country remains unclear. His trip comes amid heightened tensions between the US and North Korea over Pyongyang's nuclear program. Four Americans are also currently detained in North Korea.

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Asked if he had spoken to President Donald Trump about the visit, Rodman said: "Well, I'm pretty sure he's pretty much happy with the fact that I'm over here trying to accomplish something that we both need."

He also posted a video on YouTube talking about the "unique position" he finds himself in being friends with both Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Speaking to CNN before boarding his flight, Rodman said he hoped to do "something that's pretty positive", although he did not intend to bring up the detained Americans during any discussions with North Korean leaders.

"That's not my purpose right now... My purpose is to go over there and try to see if I can keep bringing sports to North Korea," the former Celebrity Apprentice star told the broadcaster.

"It's at least the fourth trip to North Korea for Rodman," says Time Magazine. Kim, a known basketball fan, previously welcomed the former Chicago Bulls star to the country in 2013 and 2014.

In his second visit, Rodman arranged a basketball game with other former NBA players and North Koreans and "regaled leader Kim Jong-un with a rendition of 'Happy Birthday'," reports The Independent. He also that an American missionary imprisoned in the country had only himself to blame, remarks for which he later apologised.

"Rodman's assertion that Trump would approve of a new round of 'basketball diplomacy' seems at odds with the extra pressure Washington has piled on the regime," added Time.

But any hopes of a thawing of relations might be put off - one source with inside knowledge of Rodman's previous trips told the magazine they mainly consisted of "one long party of boozing".