Ex-NBA star's visit to Pyongyang welcome

Former NBA star Dennis Rodman landed in Pyongyang on Tuesday on his fifth visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea since 2013 and his first since US President Donald Trump assumed office.

Not surprisingly, Rodman's visit has triggered fresh discussions: Is he the right man to break the ice between the DPRK and the United States? And, more importantly, will his visit to the DPRK defuse the tensions on the Korean Peninsula?

First, Rodman is definitely suited for the job. Since his first visit to the DPRK, he remains one of the few US citizens to maintain a good personal relationship with DPRK leader Kim Jong-un. During his visits to the DPRK, he has not only been warmly received by the DPRK leader, but also reportedly interacted with his family, which is rare for outsiders. Besides, Rodman has, in his own way, shown his respect for Kim Jong-un, by organizing a basketball game with other former National Basketball Association and DPRK players in January 2014. And during several interviews he has said Kim Jong-un is his "lifetime friend".