PYONGYANG, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Former NBA star Dennis Rodman had an "amicable" dinner on Tursday with Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) after they watched together a basketball game.
In a dinner hosted by the DPRK Olympic Committee, Kim talked with Rodman and his delegation "in an amicable atmosphere," the official KCNA news agency reported on Friday.
Kim said he expected such sports exchange would be activated to promote "mutual understanding between the people of the two countries."
The former Chicago Bulls' star said it was the greatest pleasure for him to meet with Kim and his wife for the first time for Americans, hoping the sports exchange would continue between the two countries, according to the KCNA.
A mixed basketball game of four visiting American players of Harlem Globetrotters and 12 Korean players from the Korean University of Physical Education took place at Ryugyong Jong Ju Yong Gymnasium on Thursday.
The competition ended in a 110-110 draw, with two Americans playing on each team alongside DPRK players. The audience cheered enthusiastically.
Rodman, wearing dark glasses and a hat, sat side by side with Kim. The two chatted in English without a translator and laughed.
Kim applauded both teams for their nice game and received a Harlem Globetrotters uniform as a gift from the American guests.
Foreign journalists were not invited to cover the U.S. delegation's trip. Rodman, with a film crew from the New York-based VICE media company, is visiting the country to shoot footage for a TV show set to air on HBO late this year. Local media have given timely coverage of the visit from its start on Tuesday.
The Harlem team said the DPRK was their 122nd visiting stop.
Related:
Video: DPRK leader, Rodman watch basketball game
Video: NBA delegation starts DPRK visit
DPRK leader, retired NBA star watch basketball game together
PYONGYANG, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s top leader Kim Jong Un and former NBA star Dennis Rodman sat together and watched a basketball game between U.S. and DPRK players Thursday, witnesses said.
The competition ended in a 110-110 draw, with 12 DPRK players and four players from the U.S. team Harlem Globetrotters divided into two teams. Full story
U.S. gov't refuses to comment on DPRK visit by American basketball players
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. State Department on Tuesday refused to comment on an ongoing visit by a delegation of U.S. basketball players to Pyongyang, capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
"We don't vet U.S. citizens' private travel to North Korea (DPRK)," State Department deputy spokesman Patrick Ventrell said. "In terms of this private travel to do basketball with kids, we just don't take a position on this private travel." Full story
|
