Former NBA star Dennis Rodman has arrived in North Korea, insisting he is "just trying to open a door" with the reclusive state.

Rodman met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on previous trips to Pyongyang and has called him "an awesome kid".

The flamboyant basketball star's latest trip is being sponsored by PotCoin, a cybercurrency for legalised marijuana.

He sported a black T-shirt advertising the brand on the plane and thanked them in a tweet.

Before departing Beijing airport for Pyongyang, he told reporters he was "just trying to open a door" with North Korea.


Image: Kim Jong Un watches a basketball game with Dennis Rodman in 2014

He said he believed President Donald Trump would support the visit as a means to "accomplish something we both need".

His publicist also pointed out that Rodman was in the unusual position of being friends with both Mr Trump and Mr Kim.

Rodman was a cast member on two seasons of Mr Trump's Celebrity Apprentice.

His visit comes as tensions have heightened on the Korean peninsula over Pyongyang's nuclear and missile tests and its vow to develop a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the US mainland.

Image: A thumbs-up from Rodman after arriving in North Korea

Four Americans are currently being held in North Korea, including 22-year-old student Otto Warmbier, who has been sentenced to 15 years' hard labour for attempting to steal a propaganda banner.

Asked about the Americans currently imprisoned in North Korea, Rodman said "that's not my purpose right now".

A senior US government official wished Rodman well on his trip, while stressing that Americans are advised to avoid travel to North Korea for their own safety.

Rodman, one of the few Westerners to have met Kim, has made at least four visits to Pyongyang, most recently in 2014.

He has been called on to defend his travels to North Korea in the past, saying in an interview with CNN in 2014 they would help "open the door" to the reclusive state and describing the North Korean leader as his "friend for life".

Headed back to North Korea. Thank you https://t.co/zBtIFz1QBr for sponsoring my mission. I'll discuss when I return. https://t.co/oCEsSvI90B — Dennis Rodman (@dennisrodman) 13 June 2017

In the same interview, he came under fire for remarks which appeared to blame Kenneth Bae, an American-Korean missionary who was jailed in North Korea, for his own incarceration. He later apologised for the comments.

The 2014 trip also saw the sportsman lead a team of retired American players in a basketball game to celebrate Kim's birthday.

He sang Happy Birthday to the leader, but his side was defeated by the North Koreans.