New | Rodman's basketball trip to North Korea undeterred by political purge

Despite the turmoil following news that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had his powerful uncle executed for treason, former NBA star Dennis Rodman, who has built a friendship with Kim is still set to visit the reclusive nation next week.

Rodman is heading to Pyongyang next week for training sessions ahead of a friendship exhibition game. The match between North Korea and a team of mainly former NBA players is scheduled for January 8, Kim’s birthday.

Paddy Power, an Irish bookmaker that is sponsoring the game, said the December 19-23 training sessions were not affected by the recent political events, where Kim’s uncle and former mentor Jang Song-thaek was recently purged in a surprise move.

Before he was expelled from power and executed, Jang Song-thaek, who was the No 2 man in government, was the chairman of the State Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission, one of Kim’s pet projects.

“Those events don’t change anything for us,” said Rory Scott, a spokesman for the Irish bookmakers. “We’re doing this because our customers love sport, which is the universal language.

“Let’s call it ‘hoops not nukes’,” he said. Satellite photos this month suggested Pyongyang was stepping up its nuclear activity in line with the regime’s vows to expand its weapons programme.