North Korea Leader Wanted NBA Players To Help Mend Ties With US

Athletes do not usually get in the way of two nations, but there are some exceptions. And in the case of the relationship between the United States and North Korea, the secret towards establishing peace may be the NBA.

In a report from ABC News, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reportedly wanted famous basketball players from the U.S. to be sent to North Korea to normalize the relationship between both countries. Unfortunately, it was never mentioned which players were meant to do this, although it may be pretty obvious that some are from the Golden State Warriors, the team dominating the league for the past years.

The whole request may be taken lightly by some parties. However, Yahoo Sports mentioned that it actually came to a point where Kim had wanted that clause to be inserted into denuclearization talks. Unfortunately, the deal was never completed. Trump walked out of the Summit after Kim demanded that all sanctions be lifted in exchange for only partial denuclearization, the Washington Examiner reported.

It turns out that Kim is actually a big Chicago Bulls fan, which is possibly why he has been conversing well with Dennis Rodman. The retired NBA player actually referred to the North Korean leader as a "friend for life" and has been a key figure in trying to get Kim and Donald Trump to settle political issues between their respective countries.

But with the series of events, it looks like that request will have to wait until the political turmoil settles down. Michael Jordan was previously invited by Kim's father, Kim Jong II but His Airness declined the invitation although Secretary of State Madeleine Albright instead gave the North Koreans a basketball signed by Jordan in 2000. Fast-forward to the present, Rodman will have to do for now as far as satisfying that request of seeing famous US basketball stars.

"When I was there on my trips, the father [Kim Jong Il] through his foreign ministry people wanted me to extend an invitation to Michael Jordan," said former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson

There is no question that NBA players would be hesitant to even get in between the United States and North Korea at this point in time. The tensions continue with the North Koreans recently firing off rocket launchers and short-range projectiles which have now been considered as a provocation since the statement following the failed summit.