Andrew Pace
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is a self-proclaimed basketball fan, with a particular interest in the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan. He has also struck up an unlikely friendship with former Bulls forward Dennis Rodman, inviting him to visit North Korea. Kim Jong Un's interest in basketball has even extended to nuclear negotiations with the US, with reports that he demanded access to famous basketball players as part of a deal. Kim's father, Kim Jong Il, was also a known basketball enthusiast, and it is believed that Kim Jong Un inherited his love of the sport from his father.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Interest in basketball | Fascination with the American National Basketball Association |
| Fan of the Chicago Bulls | |
| Obsession with Michael Jordan | |
| Interest in Kobe Bryant and Toni Kukoč | |
| Friendship with Dennis Rodman | |
| Interest in meeting famous basketball players |
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What You'll Learn
Kim Jong Un's fascination with Michael Jordan
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is reportedly a huge basketball fan, with a particular fascination for Michael Jordan. This interest in the sport and the NBA superstar is said to have begun during his time at school in Switzerland.
Kim's classmates recalled that he was a shy child who was indifferent to political issues but distinguished himself in sports. He spent hours drawing meticulous pencil sketches of Jordan, who played for the Chicago Bulls, and even had photos of himself with basketball players Kobe Bryant and Toni Kukoč. Kim's father, Kim Jong-il, was also a fan of Jordan, following his team to their six NBA championship wins in the 1990s.
Kim's interest in basketball and Jordan has continued into his tenure as Supreme Leader. He invited former Bulls forward Dennis Rodman to visit North Korea in 2013, and the pair struck up an unlikely friendship over their shared love of the sport. Rodman revealed that Kim had initially wanted Jordan to visit but settled for inviting him after Jordan declined. Kim even requested that the US send "famous basketball players" to North Korea to help improve relations between the two nations, showing that his fascination with basketball and its stars remains a key part of his life.
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Kim Jong Un's friendship with Dennis Rodman
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is a well-known basketball enthusiast. He is said to have been a fan of the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan while growing up in Switzerland. He also spent hours drawing meticulous pencil sketches of Jordan and had pictures of himself with Kobe Bryant and Toni Kukoč.
Kim Jong-un's fascination with basketball led him to develop an unlikely friendship with former Chicago Bulls forward and NBA star Dennis Rodman. Rodman visited North Korea in 2013, shortly after Kim Jong-un took power in 2011. The visit, organised by VICE, also included three members of the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team. Rodman and Kim watched the Harlem Globetrotters play alongside North Korean and American players. Rodman addressed Kim before a crowd of thousands, saying, "You have a friend for life." The two were seen laughing and chatting in English and bonding over the game.
Kim Jong-un's interest in basketball has continued into his tenure as Supreme Leader. In 2019, it was reported that Kim demanded the U.S. send "famous basketball players" to North Korea to normalise relations between the two nations. This request was made in writing prior to the second summit between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The friendship between Kim Jong-un and Dennis Rodman is particularly notable given the tense relationship between North Korea and the U.S. and the absence of diplomatic relations between the two nations. Rodman's visit to North Korea and his friendship with Kim Jong-un made him an unlikely ambassador at a time when tensions were high between the two countries.
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Kim Jong Un's basketball diplomacy
Kim Jong-un's love of basketball is well-known. The North Korean leader grew up watching Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s, and his fascination with the sport has continued into his tenure as Supreme Leader.
Kim Jong-un attended the private International School of Berne in Switzerland from 1993 to 1998, where he was described as a shy, well-integrated, and ambitious student. He was also known for his love of basketball and was reportedly \"fiercely competitive\" on the court.
Kim Jong-un's interest in basketball has even influenced his diplomatic relationships. He famously struck up a friendship with former Chicago Bulls player Dennis Rodman, inviting him to visit North Korea before his first summit with President Donald Trump. Rodman has since made several trips to North Korea, and the two have shared experiences such as riding jet skis, singing karaoke, and drinking together. Kim Jong-un also requested that the US send "famous basketball players" to North Korea as part of nuclear negotiations, citing it as a condition for normalizing bilateral relations. This request was made in writing prior to the second summit between Kim and Trump in Hanoi, Vietnam, but a deal was never reached, and relations have continued to deteriorate.
Kim Jong-un's interest in basketball has not been limited to American players. He has also been reported to have an interest in the Harlem Globetrotters, and invited the team to North Korea.
The use of basketball as a diplomatic tool by Kim Jong-un has been dubbed "basketball diplomacy." While it is unclear how effective this strategy has been in improving relations with other countries, it has certainly added a unique dimension to the world of sports diplomacy.
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Kim Jong Un's interest in the NBA
Kim Jong Un's father, Kim Jong Il, was also a fan of basketball and requested to meet Michael Jordan. While this request was never granted, then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright gave Kim Jong Il an NBA basketball signed by Jordan at the turn of the century.
Kim Jong Un's love of basketball has continued into his tenure as Supreme Leader of North Korea. He has struck up a friendship with former Chicago Bulls player Dennis Rodman, inviting him to visit North Korea and even asking the US to send "famous basketball players" as part of a nuclear deal. This has been referred to as "basketball diplomacy", with some speculating that Kim Jong Un used his relationship with Rodman to improve relations with the US.
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Kim Jong Un's basketball-playing ability
Kim Jong Un is reportedly a "die-hard", "hardcore" basketball fan, with a particular fascination for 1990s Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan. He is said to have spent hours drawing meticulous pencil sketches of Jordan and playing basketball video games.
Kim inherited his love of the game from his father, Kim Jong Il, who was also a huge basketball fan. Kim Jong Un's former classmates recall him as being "fiercely competitive" on the court, as well as "tough and fast".
Kim Jong Un's friendship with former Chicago Bulls player Dennis Rodman is well-known. Rodman has visited North Korea several times, and the two have been jet-skiing, drinking, and singing karaoke together. Kim has also been photographed with Kobe Bryant and Toni Kukoč.
Kim's interest in basketball has extended to nuclear negotiations with the US. He reportedly demanded that the US send "famous basketball players" to North Korea to help normalise bilateral relations. This request was made in writing prior to the second summit between Kim and Trump in Hanoi, Vietnam, in February 2019. However, a deal was never reached, and relations have since deteriorated.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Kim Jong Un is a self-proclaimed self-proclaimed "die-hard basketball fan". He is said to have inherited his love for the sport from his father, Kim Jong Il, who was also a fan of basketball.
Kim Jong Un is a fan of the Chicago Bulls. He has struck up a friendship with former Bulls forward Dennis Rodman, inviting him to North Korea and spending time riding jet skis, singing karaoke, and drinking together.
Kim Jong Un grew up idolising Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls of the 1990s. He spent hours drawing meticulous pencil drawings of Jordan and even requested to meet him, although Jordan declined.
Kim Jong Un is described as being described as being "fiercely competitive" on the basketball court, as well as "tough and fast". He has also been described as a "superb athlete".
