( CNN ) -- Former basketball star Dennis Rodman arrived in Pyongyang Tuesday on a five-day visit amid speculation he may try to negotiate the release of jailed U.S. citizen Kenneth Bae , China 's Xinhua news agency reported . In Beijing , the gateway for flights to Pyongyang , Rodman told Reuters he was on another `` basketball diplomacy tour '' and would not be discussing the release of Bae . `` I 'm not going to North Korea to discuss freeing Kenneth Bae , '' Rodman told Reuters in a telephone interview before he left Beijing for Pyongyang . `` I 've come out here to see my friend ( Kim ) -- and I want to talk about basketball , '' he added . Later pushing through a throng of journalists at Beijing airport , the 6 foot 7 inch ( 2.01 meter ) former basketballer said : `` I 'm just trying to go over there to meet my friend Kim , the Marshal . Try to start a basketball league over there , something like that . '' In May : Rodman asks Kim Jong Un to let U.S. citizen go . However , he told the Huffington Post last week that he would likely broach the issue with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un . `` I gave ( Kim Jong-un ) a great indication of when I 'm going to Beijing soon -- that 's just a hop , skip and a jump from North Korea . So basically , you know , I 'm pretty sure I 'll be talking to him soon , '' Rodman told the Huffington Post . Rodman is North Korean leader 's 'friend for life ' `` I will definitely ask for Kenneth Bae 's release , '' he said . `` I will say , 'Marshal , why is this guy held hostage ? ' I could try and soften it up in that way . '' `` If the Marshal says , 'Dennis , you know , do you want me to let him loose ? ' and then if I actually got him loose -- and I 'm just saying this out the blue -- I 'd be the most powerful guy in the world . '' Rodman 's trip -- which is being sponsored by Irish bookmaker Paddy Power -- is the second to the hardline Communist state this year . In March , Rodman was pictured with Kim , an ardent basketball fan , laughing and eating while watching an all-star basketball match . He was criticized over the trip which came at a time of escalating tension , with North Korea threatening missile strikes on the U.S. , South Korea and Japan . Rodman has previously made no secret about his desire to help Bae . He once tweeted that he wanted the 30-year-old unchallenged leader of North Korea to `` do him a solid '' by freeing him . Bae was sentenced to 15 years hard labor in February after he was convicted of unspecified `` hostile acts '' against North Korea . The country 's state-run Korean Central News Agency said the Korean-American was arrested late last year after arriving as a tourist in Rason City , a northeastern port near the Chinese border . North Korea last week canceled a `` humanitarian mission '' by Robert King , U.S. special envoy on North Korean human rights issues to Pyongyang , aimed at negotiating the release of Bae , citing annual military drills last week by the U.S. and South Korea . In North Korea , Rodman fouls out .
NEW : Former basketball star Dennis Rodman visits Pyongyang , capital of North Korea . The visit is the second by the celebrity - turned - politician this year to visit Kim Jong Un . He says he will seek the release of U.S. captive Bae , but has previously said he will broach the issue . He was sentenced to five years hard labor in February over unspecified ` ` hostile acts '' against North Korea .