Dennis Rodman 'Investigated for Violating Sanctions' against North Korea

Dennis Rodman

THE INDEPENDENT: Former NBA star's lavish birthday gifts for 'friend for life' Kim Jong-un may have violated international sanctions imposed on North Korea

Dennis Rodman is reportedly being investigated by the US Treasury on suspicions that he violated sanctions against North Korea by splashing thousands of dollars in luxury gifts for Kim Jong-un.

On his fourth trip to Pyongyang, the former NBA player allegedly showered "friend for life" Kim with expensive gifts to celebrate his 31st birthday; these reportedly included Irish Jameson whiskey, a fur coat, an Italian suit, several bottles of his "Bad Ass Premium Vodka" brand and a Mulberry handbag for his wife, Ri Sol-ju.

A US official told the Daily Beast the Treasury Department is investigating whether Rodman violated US sanctions under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act signed by President Barack Obama in 2010, which makes it illegal for US citizens to "import, export, or reexport" luxury goods to or into North Korea.

Rodman's gifts also appear to violate UN sanctions imposed on North Korea prohibiting "the provision of luxury goods" adopted in 2007. These were reinforced last year after the country conducted its third nuclear test in February 2013. » | Maria Tadeo | Friday, January 24, 2014

Why Dennis Rodman Should Not Be Friends with Kim Jong-un – By a Survivor of the North Korean Gulag

Kim Jong-un's comic book villain image belies the very real horrors of North Korea - and foreign celebrities should have nothing to with him, a says survivor of the North Korean gulag

Read the Telegraph article and comment here | Peter Foster, Washington | Saturday, December 21, 2013

Defector Calls On Dennis Rodman to Make Kim Jong-un 'Hear the Cries of His People'

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Open letter exhorts US basketball star Dennis Rodman to use his controversial visit to North Korea to highlight human rights concerns

The only person born in a North Korean labour camp to have escaped to the West has written an impassioned open letter to Dennis Rodman, the former US basketball star, asking him to use his influence with Kim Jong-un to make him "hear the cries of his people".

Shin Dong-hyuk's letter, published in the Washington Post, comes just days before Mr Rodman is scheduled to travel to North Korea to meet Mr Kim for a third time to prepare for a basketball match billed as "The Big Bang in Pyongyang."

Sponsored by Paddy Power, the Irish online gaming firm, the match is due to take place in January and will pit a group of former professional players from the US against a team of North Korean players that Mr Rodman has trained.

Addressing the letter to "Dear Mr Rodman," Mr Shin wrote that he was born in Camp 14 in the mountains of North Korea. » | Julian Ryall, Tokyo | Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Dennis Rodman Describes '7-star Party' Lifestyle of Kim Jong-un

Kim Jong-un with Dennis Rodman

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Dennis Rodman, the former US basketball star, has described the life of Kim Jong-un as a "seven-star" party with constant cocktails, jet-skis at the North Korean dictator's private island and luxury yachts.

Rodman, 52, paid a second visit to North Korea in September and described Kim as "a good friend."

In an interview with The Sun, the flamboyant former Chicago Bulls star said he spent seven days on Kim's private island.

"It's like going to Hawaii or Ibiza, but he's the only one that lives there," Rodman said. "He likes people to be happy around him.

"He's got 50 to 60 around him all the time - just normal people, drinking cocktails and laughing the whole time.

"If you drink a bottle of tequila, it's the best tequila," he added. "Everything you want, he has the best." » | Julian Ryall, Tokyo | Monday, October 21, 2013

Franklin Graham: President Should Listen to Dennis Rodman