Rodman unusually restrained when visiting North Korea

Former American basketball player Dennis Rodman has been unusually restrained so far during his visit to North Korea, and as announced, today he will go bowling and visit the zoo.

For now, it is not known whether Rodman will meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, with whom he spoke during previous visits to that Asian country, although such a meeting is generally not announced.

Rodman spoke to the women's basketball team at a gym today and visited the birthplace of North Korea's founder, Kim Il Sung.

It was also announced that the former basketball player will meet with the Minister of Sports.

The US and North Korea point out that the former NBA star's visit to North Korea has nothing to do with the release of an American student from prison.

Otto Warmbier, who was serving 15 years in prison with hard labor for anti-state activity, was freed and flown out of North Korea on Tuesday, when Rodman arrived in the isolated country.

Rodman has visited North Korea on several occasions, where in 2014 he organized a gala basketball game to mark the birthday of the country's leader.

USA: Rodman has nothing to do with freeing the student

The State Department announced that the visit of American basketball player Dennis Rodman to North Korea has nothing to do with the release of American student Otto Warmbier from Pyongyang.

Dennis Rodman had nothing to do with the release of Warmbier," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said.

She added that the US is grateful for his release from prison in Pyongyang, but that it is too early to talk about dialogue between the US and North Korea.

Warmbier, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison for allegedly acting against North Korea, was released and evacuated from North Korea today when Rodman arrived in that country.

Nauert would not release details about Warmbier's release or his health, although his parents say he is in a coma.

Earlier today, Rodman said that by going to North Korea, for the first time since Donald Trump was appointed president of the USA, he is trying to open the door to all Americans in that country.

This is his fifth visit to Pyongyang and the country's controversial president Kim Jong-Un, whom he has said is his friend, and each time he has been greeted with a red carpet.

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