Rodman leaves North Korea without word if he met leader

Beijing: Former basketball star Dennis Rodman left North Korea today, but didn`t answer questions from the media on whether he had met with leader Kim Jong Un on his latest visit.

The two struck up a friendship when Rodman first travelled to the secretive state earlier this year. Rodman declined to answer questions from reporters on his arrival at Beijing`s airport. Yesterday night, he told The Associated Press that he had not yet had a meeting with Kim. He arrived in North Korea on Thursday, a week after North Korea announced the execution of Kim`s once-powerful uncle, sparking speculation by foreign analysts over the future of the Kim regime. Rodman`s short visit was aimed at finalising plans to bring 12 ex-NBA players to Pyongyang for a Jan. 8 exhibition game marking Kim`s birthday. Rodman is the highest profile American to meet Kim since the leader inherited power from his father in late 2011.