An emotional Dennis Rodman appeared to break down as he apologised on his return from a controversial trip to North Korea, where he sang Happy Birthday to regime leader Kim Jong-Un.
The former NBA star was widely criticised for refusing to bring up human rights abuses or the plight of a US missionary detained in North Korea during his week-long visit.
He was also accused of pandering to North Korean authorities during the trip, which featured an exhibition basketball match involving other NBA stars to mark Kim's birthday.
'I love my country, America, I love it and I will never trade it for nothing in the world,' the pierced and heavily tattooed Rodman told reporters at Beijing airport on Monday.
Former world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson described Rodman's actions as 'treason'.
Rodman said he wanted to 'show people that no matter what is going on in the world, for one day ... not politics, not all this stuff ... ' before launching into an apology.
'I am sorry. I am not the president. I am not an ambassador. I am Dennis Rodman. Just an individual, just showing the world the fact that we can actually get along and be happy for one day,' Rodman said, before his voice broke and he put his hands to his face.
He was ushered through a heavy media presence by security and his entourage.
Rodman developed an unlikely relationship with the young North Korean leader since making his first trip there in February, when he declared Kim a 'friend for life'.
Wearing dark glasses, a blue tracksuit top and orange scarf, Rodman was asked whether he raised the issue of Kenneth Bae, detained by North Korean authorities.
In an interview with CNN last week, Rodman delivered an angry tirade in which he appeared to suggest the missionary merited his 15-year prison sentence.
'I'm sorry I couldn't do anything,' Rodman said on Monday.
'I'm sorry, it's not my fault. I'm sorry ... I just want to do some good stuff, that's all I want to do, basketball, that's all.'
Rodman was returning from his fourth visit to the reclusive state in 12 months.
'It is amazing that I had the opportunity just to go to North Korea, and for the Marshal (Kim) just to give me an opportunity just to be in his presence and in his city,' he said, adding that he would visit the country again next month for 'another game'.
Kim is reported to be a huge fan of basketball and especially of the Chicago Bulls, with whom Rodman won three NBA titles in the 1990s.
Bae was arrested in November 2012 as he entered Rason, a port in the northeast.
North Korea says Bae is a Christian evangelist who brought in 'inflammatory' material.
Posted by Unknown on Monday, January 13, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
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