The trip was Mr. Rodman’s second to see Mr. Kim, whom he has called a friend. In May, Mr. Rodman had asked on Twitter for Mr. Kim to “do me a solid” and release the missionary. He also had said he planned to return to the North to try to gain the man’s release, according to a video posted on the celebrity news Web site TMZ.

Mr. Rodman was met Saturday by reporters at the airport in Beijing after arriving from North Korea and was asked about using his influence with Mr. Kim to urge the release of the American, Kenneth Bae, who is serving a 15-year prison sentence in a labor camp after being arrested while in the country where he has done Christian missionary work.