North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's biggest fan Dennis Rodman may play a role in the highly anticipated North Korea summit in Singapore on June 12.
The former NBA star and self-proclaimed "sports ambassador to North Korea" has previously suggested that his interaction with the North Korean leader had given Kim a greater interest in meeting President Donald Trump.
"When I was...there the last time for his birthday I gave him Donald Trump's books, I gave him stuff about Donald Trump and about Americans," Rodman said in a TMZ Sports video interview.
"I think he didn't realize who Donald Trump was at that time until I guess he could read the book. I don't want to take all the credit, I don't wanna sit there and say 'I did this,' that's not my intention," he added, explaining his sports ambassador role had helped to provide Kim and Trump "the ability to talk."
And describing Trump as a "good friend" after a stint on Celebrity Apprentice, Rodman is reportedly hoping his perceived role in the talks might continue, with The New York Post reporting the former sports star is set to be in Singapore at the time of the summit.
"No matter what you might think about his presence, one thing's for sure the ratings will be huge," a source told the publication. "A lot of times in situations that involve complex diplomacy countries like to identify ambassadors of goodwill and whether you agree with it or not Dennis Rodman fits the bill."
And given his description of himself as an ambassador, it is not unlikely Rodman could see himself playing some sort of role in the summit, although he has not personally confirmed whether he is set to be in Singapore on the day.
Rodman told Stephen Colbert on The Last Show at the end of last year that he and Kim have a good relationship, adding he had visited the isolated nation a number of times over the past four years.
"When I went over there, the first thing he said to me was, 'Mr. Rodman, we just want to know, can we trust you?' I said, 'Absolutely.' And that's how our conversation started," Rodman said.
