North Korean leader Kim Jong-un wants US President Barack Obama to call him, and does not want war, according to retired basketball star Dennis Rodman.

Speaking on ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Mr Rodman claimed: "He said, 'If you can, Dennis - I don't want [to] do war. I don't want to do war.' He said that to me."

When questioned about Mr Kim's human rights record, Mr Rodman said he was not apologising for the North Korean leader, "but as a person to person, he's my friend."