HBO’s VICE says it never expected to meet North Korean leader

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This undated publicity image released by HBO shows former NBA basketball player Dennis Rodman, right, with North Korea\'s Kim Jong Un at a basketball game from an episode of the documentary series "Vice." The season final episode will air on on June 14 at 11 p.m. EST on HBO. (AP Photo/Vice.com via HBO)

NEW YORK, N.Y. – The documentary crew that accompanied Dennis Rodman to North Korea over the winter says it had no idea it would meet the reclusive country’s young leader Kim Jong Un until he showed up at a basketball game it was filming.

The media company VICE arranged the trip and invited Rodman after its first choice, Michael Jordan, expressed no interest. A 30-minute documentary on the unexpected piece of basketball diplomacy will air on June 14 and was previewed for some reporters on Wednesday.

The North Korean leader loves basketball so much that he overlooked the government’s antipathy for VICE founder Shane Smith, who had made two critical documentaries on North Korea. Smith wasn’t allowed back in but others from VICE were.

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