Rodman on a high for role in peace talks

DESPITE not being invited to the Singapore Summit, former NBA star Dennis Rodman has claimed credit for bringing his “friends” Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un together.

The former champion basketballer has been one of the few Westerners to have met the reclusive North Korean leader on no less than five visits to the capital city of Pyongyang and said yesterday he was “happy to be part of it”.

Rodman, who was also a contestant on Trump’s reality TV show Celebrity Apprentice in 2013, appeared to claim some responsibility for the historic meeting taking place, telling journalists at Singapore’s Changi Airport yesterday that it followed his chats with Kim in Pyongyang.

“I think that I brought awareness to a lot of things around the world and I think North Korea has given a lot of people the opportunity to do this conference now and I hope it’s a success,” he mused.

“Who knew this would have happened five to six years ago … It’s exciting to be a part of it.”

Rodman’s real motive for his trip however appeared to be written large on the T-shirt he sported as he arrived in Singapore, promoting a crypto currency company that offers secure digital network banking for the marijuana industry.

The 57-year-old unlikely would-be diplomat did, however, offer a celebrity feel and a touch of emotion to the momentous meeting as he commentated then broke down in tears on camera when Trump and Kim met for the first time.