Dennis Rodman in Pyeongyang

Dennis Rodman of the National Basketball Association fame _ one way or another _ is now in Pyeongyang as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters to flash some of his brilliant form on the basketball court.

The visit is part of a cultural exchange designed to promote sports by the magazine VICE.

The performance in Pyeongyang is expected to be presented in a pay-per-view program on HBO sometime in April.

The events are attracting keen attention since it is taking place at a time when North Korea is at the center of global sight due to its third test of nuclear weapons last month.

The visit follows a trip to North Korea by Google chairman Eric Schmidt at the beginning of the year.

Rodman, with all of his tattoos and piercings, is scheduled to hold a number of programs, including a training camp for children.

He had been a star with the NBA, playing for years with the Detroit Pistons and the Chicago Bulls.