At a time of US-N.Korea tension US Rodman lauds N. Korea's 'awesome' leader

SEOUL: Former NBA star Dennis Rodman lauded North Korea's new ruler as an "awesome kid" and his father and grandfather as "great leaders" at the end of his basketball diplomacy mission to Pyongyang.

At a time of high US-North Korea tensions following Pyongyang's recent nuclear test, the man who once dated Madonna became the most high-profile American to meet Kim Jong-Un, with whom he watched a basketball match.