American basketball star Dennis Rodman defended his latest visit to North Korea in an interview with broadcaster CNN on Tuesday, saying it would help "open the door" to the reclusive state.
Rodman, speaking during his fourth trip to the country, expressed "love" for leaderKim Jong Un and claimed his controversial trip was a "great idea for the world".
Rodman and a team of fellow former National Basketball Association stars will hold basketball games in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, to mark Kim's birthday, which is believed to fall on Wednesday, though this has never been officially confirmed.
The games come just weeks after Kim's powerful uncle Jang Song Thaek was purged and executed. South Korean President Park Geun-hye has described recent events in North Korea as a "reign of terror.
During the interview, the former NBA star also appeared to question the activities of Korean-American missionary Kenneth Bae, who has been held in North Korea on charges of crimes against the state since May last year.
"If you understand what Kenneth Bae did .... Do you understand what he did in this country? Why is he held captive in this country?" Rodman said.
Rodman has faced both ridicule and harsh criticism from some quarters for his trips, which some U.S. politicians and activists view as serving only as fodder for propaganda efforts by the North Korean regime.
"This is not about me. If I can open the door a little bit, just a little bit," Rodman said. "It's all about the game. People love to do one thing - sports."
He also lamented the criticism his visits have drawn.
"It's amazing how we thrive on negativity. Does anyone know this guy's only 31 years old?" he said of Kim, whom he calls his friend.
"Dennis, he could be 31, he could be 51," said CNN interviewer Chris Cuomo. "He's just killed his uncle. He's holding an American hostage."
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