Dublin: Irish bookmaker Paddy Power has withdrawn its sponsorship of retired US basketball player Dennis Rodman's visits to North Korea, saying it was a result of general condemnation of Pyongyang.

Mr Rodman returned on Monday from a four-day trip to isolated North Korea that was arranged by Paddy Power and followed the rare public purge of leader Kim Jong Un's powerful uncle Jang Song Thaek, who was executed this month.

Former NBA basketball player Dennis Rodman speaks to the media after returning from his trip to North Korea at Beijing airport. Credit:Reuters

"It was really a reaction to the worldwide focus and total condemnation of the North Korean regime over recent events," the betting firm, which is renowned for its daring marketing, said in a statement.

"We don't want to be associated with that."