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welcome to north korea the world's most isolated and repressive state a country that's always been on the outside ever since its birth at the end of the second world wolf when korea was torn into. the soviet union helped to establish a communist state in the mills and installed kim il sung as leader kim's failed attempt to conquer the south during the korean will lead to a full kilometer wide buffer zone being built between the two nations the most heavily militarized border on the planet. today north korea remains an anomaly cast off both politically and geographically from the modern world. but one man is on a mission to change all that. the basketball this is what happened when dennis rodman

went to north korea and stage the most controversial sporting event the world has ever seen. they call this a you know we want to go to a doctor. but again want to go showers. across a joke france there were. no times for you the word got out that you know when north korea then almost all the negativity sort of come out about north korea how conscious bad how are they kidnap people crazy

now you know come back and just all these different type of wow well and every story so it's an enormous amount of may have been worse. than the first two times my wife so this week. in case you didn't know from humble beginnings dennis rodman became one of the greatest basketball players the world has ever seen well this is where we'd like to show you some incredible footage of dennis his playing career but unfortunately the n.b.a. which owns all of the footage has flat out refused to take part in this documentary so we can't. what we can show you is some of dennis's balmy behavior off the course which is what really quote the world's attention his head piercings tattoos and cookie dress sense made him a press sensation. also hanging up his ninety's dennis continued to be the most flamboyant in your face american celebrity around so you wouldn't have thought that he'd be welcomed in a country that believes in order conformity and little freedom of expression. so we went to the game. game's practice for. the wall street to assure.

us that i must be president of the country. soon and that's why for me all this is just the fight that's the way i want ground less because i know what the game is over by this truth as host but not as harsh as possible your column for dinner for love me tonight talking. you know. coming back again with me so. back and four months later dennis did return jumping on an army helicopter to the man they call the marshals east coast holiday hope along for the ride this christmas instant. everything is just so . far stars of the summer star it is a great day every day that's so was. entertaining so much fun just so much when our

station is everything just so the first one we really actually talk talk talk. i mean we really really cover the clothes with the force that as a freshman bomb was while they were kicking back the martial opened up about dennis is previous trip. to home and go charging to get the focus what do you do for a living. you know i had to show she took the place of work. that. she wanted to see the best work source i think this would be ideal of how do you know this is you know. from a bus. or a game. you know you know this birth rate very. quick. and. that. shit. six dennis didn't even one thing that money putting on such

a big event tough way around the world would require a loss of it but luckily for dennis in a moment of pure serendipity he was about to cross paths with the perth expo and set one of the biggest gambling companies in ireland and the u.k. paddy power is well known for its headline grabbing marketing strategies and it was one of its chief his p.r. stunts yet that led to its first meeting with dennis it started in a very very unprecedented circumstance it was the first papal resignation in the past six hundred years we sent our people like to our own we were taking bets on who the next. biggest stories on that particular day were prepared taking bets and mexico could be dennis rodman on his first trip to north korea and we thought there could be an interesting synergy here if you bring it to them together quite literally twenty four hours later dennis was on a plane. and i think sincerely. in broome dennis told paddy power about his agreement with kim jong un to put on

a basketball game in north korea and paddy power had jumped at the chance to get involved. that brings us to the news conference when the game was revealed to the world dennis is painting the trip as a way to bridge the gap between north korea and the united states now. that might sound like a pipe dream but it's exactly what happened in the one nine hundred seventy s. when a team of u.s. ping pong players traveled to china. to visit ease tensions between the two nations and two years later richard nixon paid his own visit to the communist state forty years on could pave the way for the current u.s. government to visit north korea it would be a long shot given the country's rocky relationship need a quick refresh well as recently as nine hundred ninety four the united states and north korea were on the brink of a war after falling out over north korea's nuclear ambitions. but president bill clinton ever the chairman sent his previous i said jimmy carter on

a diplomatic mission and kim il sung agreed to put north korea's nuclear plans on hold that all changed when new leader kim jong il put the country's nuclear program back in motion after president george bush took a somewhat different approach by publicly naming north korea along side iran and iraq in an action. that brings us to the next administration and president obama's tactic of strategic patience which basically means refusing to speak to the third generation and new leader kim jong un until north korea agrees to disarm of course that means dennis is willingness to converse with north korea flies in the face of the u.s. as foreign policy no wonder the white house is keen to distance itself from his efforts. our view. about north korea. not. about kenneth bae not change i guess

kenneth bae an evangelical christian who was arrested in two thousand and twelve while leading a to a group through north korea he was later charged with planning to overthrow the government and sentenced to fifteen years hard labor it's yet another cause of friction and dennis finds himself under pressure as a personal friend of kim jong un's to help push for by his release and then as if that wasn't enough for dennis to contend with just one day before he's due to fly out this happens. despicable human scum worse than a dog that's how north korean state media described the once powerful uncle and uncle of north korean leader kim jong un has been executed for trying to overthrow the government reports from north korea tonight say the second most powerful man in the country has been executed jang song tek the uncle of the country's leader had already been stripped of all his powers today a military tribunals ordered his execution after he was found guilty of treason. with the shocking news about jan suntech breaks dennis is enjoying his last night of revelry in his hometown of miami. and. the story has turned an even

greater spotlight on his trip. does dennis really know what he's getting himself into i'm doing really really the best for you in the war news that we're done there's going to be reproduces the b.o.c. is there for you to know these people you know that's when we moved and was ready to do what i'm doing. right now. and so the following day it's a defiant dennis who sets out for north korea. dennis arrives in beijing his last stop on route to north korea where he meets up with the rest of his entourage there's his assistant bo rory from paddy power and another more unlikely travel

buddy a science buff and professor joe who got involved through a suitably bizarre route and so this rather curious band of characters sets off on the final leg of its journey a three hour hop over the iron curtain into north korea. was one of the most and. you. know a lot of. once again dennis has arrived on north korean soil and after settling in his hotel he's taken straight to an eighteen course welcome dinner was in north korea sports minister he's told that kim jong un is too busy to attend which is no surprise seeing as he's just perched his on. the next morning dennis is up early and ready for action. the january game is just a few weeks away and dennis is in

a race to get everything ready in time. his first stop is the stadium where the historic match will take place waiting for dennis is a select group of north korea's best basketball place it's now down to dennis to pick the very best for the final north korean team that will face off against the americans on january eighth. so how good are the north korean players well better than you might think of course due to the country's isolation they won't be making waves on the international scene anytime soon but in quasi communist states like north korea athletes and national sports teams are important cogs in the state propaganda machine lauded by the leader to prove what a good job he's doing and show how powerful a nation he's created. over the next few days dennis is kept busy whipping the north korean team into

shape sharing all the know how he built up over a decade at the top of the game. it's just a few days until christmas and it's time for dennis and his entourage to head home to spend some quality time with their friends and families. stopping over in beijing the team was surprised at how much negative press the match is attracting i'm. willing to. leave. home.

alabama. hello. everything changed before christmas our collective view in terms of our it is asian in a project change before christmas. and that it all seemed to do its approach. north korea was suddenly the subject of us and friends and friends international scrutiny kim jong un is basically telling me later in pyongyang if you disloyal to me you

will be executed made us reassess exactly what we were doing. led us to. physician and we are no longer comfortable being associated with the event paddy power has pulled out which would seem to be a massive blow for dennis without them his project would never have gotten off the ground and it would have been fun to watch a self promoting gambling company hanging out in a country where both advertising and gambling are illegal but dennis doesn't seem too concerned now it's all his show no wonder he seems upbeat as he meets his fellow american basketball players who've signed up for the match. robinson. played their two years and. this is the opportunity of a lifetime for me chris you played the n.b.a. for fourteen years from los angeles to your seattle washington. play fourteen years in n.b.a. your coach high school ball dallas florida number one don't turn away i

know many of you that we are from paris france leave an hour for my eyes for twenty six years old playing a yearly bigger play thirteen years in the n.b.a. currently. finishing halfway through my master's program at union seminary in new york no injury also known as you know to the street ball world. from north carolina grammar when force one key member of the squad is the former new york knicks power forward charles smith since leaving the n.b.a. he's carved out a career staging exhibition games around the world were the first u.s. team. to step on north korea's soil and have a game against their national team that's a fact we from this point on we are going to everybody in this room is going to be bombed for the rest of our lives in a historical epic event. so dense his pals are here and for his

fourth time he's on a flight to pyongyang on the surface it seems like everything's back on track apart from one very significant thing despite dennis appearing to be in good spirits the christmas break was a really stressful time he got a hammering in the press and he was hounded wherever he went which led to a number of painful family issues. to cope with the added stress dennis has started drinking a lot. he's battled alcoholism for most of his adult life and with the game just a couple of days away it's not the best of times to be falling off the wagon. dennis is on his way to the stadium to run a joint training session with both the american and north korean basketball teams

it's a momentous occasion and it's the first time that the two sides have meant and the station is their only chance to science each other before tomorrow's big game. but even though it's only ten am dennis has already started drinking. but the show must go on. for all his enthusiasm denis isn't in the ideal condition to leave the job. charles smith who runs basketball courses all over the world is quick to step in and take charge.

of you. for you. it's sad to see dennis playing such a minor role after all he picked this north korean team just a few weeks ago. they are a talented bunch and it's possible that charles and his other u.s. players are underestimating them something denis might have been able to tell them but right now he's a bit too drunk to be much use to anybody. thank you we're going to do whatever. the u.s. players head back to the hotel for a spot of relaxation that some worrying news awaits them. a number of players have

been left messages by their sponsors back in the united states who are threatening to drop them if they take part in the game. understandably they can't becomes unsettled and suddenly there's talk of pulling out just the day before the game again charles smith takes charge and crisis talks are held behind closed doors when the players reemerge it's revealed that smith has organized an exclusive interview with a news network c n n. the players hope it will give them a chance to tell their side of the story and calm the situation with their sponsors back home smith works through a list of cnn's questions to make sure the players all sing from the same hymn sheet. we received a letter from the d.v.r. olympic committee. on the tension to do this again. this isn't about oh then this is we're here to sit we put smiles on people's faces everlasting

memories in the minds of individuals and hopefully with the good work that we do we do here again while we're here so we don't think. politics into that this is not what we're going to get it charles i get it i get why you're there it's the problem is it's more complicated and i ask. it just is it's more complicated than bass but also so say. you know you say it's more complicated than the ball basketball is not was and that's what we do big game has been president presented as a birthday present to the rule ruler i'm not here to fight with you guys i respect what you're doing i'm just concerned for the family of this ranch who is held there and i am concerned as many americans are about giving a birthday present to a man who is seen as a despot who just had his uncle executed dennis you understand the issue it's not

about hating you know we want to american basketball player here but you can you can we're not again we're not here to deal with the politics the date of the games the date of the game the interview is nearly over and charles has skillfully navigated every question on c.n.n. to list for us at the last moment the interview and ups an unscripted question into the mix. dennis let me end on this you do have a relationship with this man are you going to take an opportune. if you get it right just speak up for the family of kenneth bet will you take me on my own little office if you want to say to them. you understand. what do you do yourself a country you tell me what you do and the know you tell me tell me why is he held captive they haven't released any charges they have largely been haven't released any reason. people yes go ahead you know you've got

a good team and obviously. you know. it is true you go to prison for. there are always guys here. where. we do and we appreciate that we wish them well it was all untrue in training officer no longer the case of why sas would. give a dentist who was sitting on the lead to use them as an excuse for the behavior that you're basically doing. you just basically were saying that kenneth bae did something wrong we don't even know what a charge is are you don't use these guys as a shield for you dennis your person listen listen listen are you. going to. a home or do you want to. know

joy behind a mad point now. look of the guys you don't want. to go back you'll never stop. no. one day. this is who is finally over. what is. the key here is you can bury dennis or charles charles that's not my organization and that's not my affair but that's not charles it's not my intention there really isn't a bad there really is a let me finish please we're not here to talk politics so outside of that any questions that come back through that is baiting to get us into politics or has not

we're here charles remained sitting here understands that charles i understand it as well i wish you good luck with the cultural exchange but you know the issues that are at play good luck with the game i hope it has the results that you wanted to and i wish you safe trip home thank you for joining us this week. not getting to hear it into a discussion about kenneth bae dennis may have sabotaged charles's attempt to paint the trip as a cultural sporting exchange worried about the effect the outburst might have on their public image back home the players hold yet more crisis talks but that's not going to really total one. a couple of hours later with the game still hanging in the balance doug and charles managed to get access to the hotel's closely guarded internet service and they find the interview online so we got caught up. but when you look at this thing and anything in short i don't think these go back before we

do but he's obviously these are. good spreads to the other players they get together for more talks and at the eleventh hour finally decide to stay and prepare for a match day the game is on. as the players make their way to the court there's a buzz of activity in the corridor was and there's only one explanation the marshal kim jong un has arrived. standing in the tunnel and listening to the roar of the crowd the scale of the event only just starts to his head for the first time ever an american team will play an away fixture in north korea with kim jong un watching on. national pride is at stake and even though the event will only be broadcast in north korea the results will be eagerly anticipated around the world so it's a game neither side will want to use. thank

you thank you thank you. thank you. thank you. thank you kidding me money isn't evil that is needed now would you please remember that even the we are free you meet anybody here you will see we entered the city thank you you thank

. you would you know. the reasoning is all that is needed. with the players out on course and twenty thousand north koreans waiting patiently it's time for dennis's big moment.

what will i do you think. my peers hear from us. having the cuss to believe in me to beat you with emotional force birth a lot of people have been displaced. and different views about me. and your leader heard in washington. and i have a team that is be confident a couple paint is force a world. yes this is a great leader. people by force was people here in this country. and think of the people who love the martial.

for the people in north korea i want to say one thing. this is fish. of. my penis in. the national team here. to my my friend and his wife and it's to. his family. to. thank you thank you very much thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you. dennis is serenading of the marshall is very unexpected even by his own standards and shows how politically naive he is it's very unlikely to go down well back home but for now that will have to wait there's

a basketball game to be played. and in another unexpected move dennis has decided to split the game into two halves in the first half it's the main event the united states against north korea. and after the break dennis is mixing up the teams so both north koreans and americans will play side by side it's a nice touch aimed at underlining the real importance of the trip bringing the people of the two nations that are divided in so many ways closer together. the us start by trying to use the high said vantage but the handling that's them down. the north koreans response is to use their own advantage speed they move the

ball fast staying out of reach and choosing from outside the three point. of. the american school their first points with doug christie's cool head and hands and eventually from the. was packed thank you said back in the game which has turned out to be more physical than they had expected. thanks to. north korea continue to dominate playing a pass and move style of basketball that leaves the americans flat footed and defending too deep to prevent a succession of three point shots thank. you for the hosts up the

tempo against their decision making and hence be too much for an aging team including an out of condition. thanks. at the end of the first period and with the americans trailing by ten points dennis bows out to enjoy watching the rest of the game with his friend kim jong un thanks. you know the second quarter brings more of the same. have the u.s. team does rally but fatigue starts to play its part and for all that effort nothing

quite comes off. pat thank. god at the end of the second course hit the score is usa says he nine north korea forty five a win for the d.p. r. k. and an indication that the professionals just might have underestimated their opponents. who. were trying to. live my favorite live live live thanks and the teams change up for the next

second half and it just happens that with the two nationalities mixed together the crowd sees some of the best action of the night with dennis and kim jong un watching on. the touch thank god. it's still a strange sight the leader of the world's most tightly controlled states and america's most out of control celebrity laughing and joking like a couple of old college buddies. tough thank you thank you how cute thank you thank you

thank you thank you we. as the game reaches a close it's hard to say what long term effect it may or may not have but the interaction between the north korean and u.s. players feels like an era in a positive thing with millions of north koreans watching their kin standing shoulder to shoulder with the old enemy on the t.v. screens thank you thank you thank you was thousands thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you

thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you i was anxious thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you after the game the martial meets the play. after all as we know he's a big basketball fan. in the dressing room there is a sense of euphoria and relief. i just saw have occurred to i think you guys thank you thank you thank you thank you strike i. was i

thanks to. the high emotions i felt in the north korean camp to. the right way to write pleasure and to have music on all for the owner to have the respected martial here today and to watch my son play. i know there are many players in the world but i think these must be the happiest in the world. i with their achievement starting to sink in to play is begin to celebrate. when i was thank you us through us thank you thank you i thank you thank you. the next day the u.s.

players but the few soreheads head out for some specially organized are in our time with the north korean team we have a chance they are still going to work with the national team so it was a waterpark goggles lars ago the guys full in the work of even though it was a different leg was very rich richard was injured in the meantime dennis and a few of the group head off on a separate trip. during the game dennis was told that the marshal had prepared something special he wanted them to spend the weekend in must agree on north korea's new and only base kiwis it was just two hours by car east of the capitol. police. found. it easy to keep

up. after the officials have let us take a few shots of the ski resort we're told that only dennis and his closest confidantes can stay to meet kim jong un while the rest of the crew have to return to pyongyang. the next morning it's time for the american players to say their goodbyes and head back to the united states are i don't know how much how much shit i'm going to want to go back home which i don't know and doesn't matter i have to just you know face the consequences because i did something out of a radical nature you know and that's just cool as cool me and some do. but i'm not sad i'm like joe i did something that you know people in america didn't agree with fully. and i had to deal with almost certainly didn't turn for this to be a birthday celebration for anyone. and that's what determined to be so it

was unfortunate there. were all you know in that situation but we have to move on from it. a few days later it's genesis turn to head home as the world's press waits to find out what happened at the ski lodge. but when he appears he swept through the air force and onto his connecting flight without saying a word. on the plane home the truth comes out despite promises that they'd spend some quality time together kim never showed it's desperately disappointing for dennis especially after everything he'd gone through to get the game to happen at all. so why didn't

kim show it turns out that up at the ski lodge dennis went on the mother of all drinking binges with the marshals friends and family watching on a decision was made for him to say face and not turn up in other words dennis blew it the game was a great show piece no doubt but their friendship as odd as it may have seemed could have had a lot of potential in the long run it really could have led to improved relations between the united states and north korea but dennis is alcoholism and sheer unpredictability got the better of him and now his dream of opening the door to north korea may have gone up in smoke for good it's a big picture not this one big picture ok so. this is going to work. ok great. we could actually go. and actually come back and ask. what people want to make of that country. and it's not.

what exactly is wage labor. how long has this exist stands still. and why did county not see it as one just. a short history of whites maybe. it's worth watching a promise. made in germany thirty million dollars for. global inequalities. what does

inequality mean in a globally connected well. known to the media. join the discussion and help you. digest as global media forum twenty eight. germany street by street. the most colorful. the earliest. the most traditional. find it all at any time. check him with the web special. take a tour of germany state by state on d w dot com. a news i was. going to call to change heads up to this kind simcoe who saw it but.

people put big dreams on the big story. maybe magazine on the w. french president emanuel mccrone has urged the united states to reject fear and isolationism and not to retreat from its a storage and military role in world affairs he told a joint meeting of congress that international allies must work more closely to confront global threats mccrone also urged washington not to abandon the iran nuclear deal. california authorities have announced the arrest of a former police officer suspected of more than fifty rapes and at least.