Former basketball player Dennis Rodman to make third visit to North Korea

The retired NBA player will be helping to train the North Korean basketball team for an exhibition game next year

Dennis Rodman with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un back in February (Getty Images)

It seems that Dennis Rodman just can't get enough of North Korea, the controversial former basketball player will shortly be making his third visit to the hermit state this year.

Rodman was in the secretive state back in September and will be returning again on the 18 December to help train the North Korean basketball team. They will then take on former NBA players in an exhibition game in the new year. The latest trip has been sponsored by betting company Paddy Power and will be filmed by the firm.

It is not certain whether Rodman will meet up with the North Korean leader and his "friend for life" Kim Jong-Un. However, the basketball star has spoken of the leader in glowing terms, praising him for being a good father and "a very good guy".

Despite the country's questionable records on human rights, Rodman has opted for using "basketball diplomacy" instead of directly acting as a political representative. There was some speculation that Rodman would be helping to secure the release of a Christian missionary on his previous visit but the retired basketball player quickly dismissed the suggestions.

The NBA star tweeted "I'm not a politician, Kim Jung Un & North Korean people are basketball fans. I love everyone. Period. End of story. #WORMinNorthKorea"

Rodman made his first visit to North Korea back in February and since his subsequent visits he has grown close to Kim Jong-Un.

A Paddy Power spokesman told CNN that the names of the players taking part in the exhibition game will be announced next week.