By . Damien Gayle . Dennis Rodman has denied reports that North Korean despot Kim Jong Un had his own uncle executed in a purge. The former NBA star, known in the past for his tattoos, piercings and wild behaviour, and now for his bizarre friendship with Kim, insisted in an interview the uncle was still alive. His denial comes despite reports carried on North Korea's own state media that Jang Song Thaek was executed in December for 'anti-state acts'. Kim Jong-Un and Dennis Rodman chat at a basketball game in Pyongyang: Rodman has claimed Kim's uncle is alive, despite reports on North Korea's own media that he was executed in December for 'anti-state acts' Besties: Kim and Rodman embrace during the former NBA star's visit to North Korea in March last year . Speaking in an interview with luxury U.S. magazine DuJour, Rodman said: 'You could say anything here about North Korea and people would believe it. 'The last time I went there, when they said they killed his girlfriend, they killed his uncle, they just fed him to the dogs ... They were standing right behind me.' The journalist conducting the interview, Lindsay Silberman, asked him to clarify, pointing out that the North Korean regime has made clear the uncle was executed – but Rodman repeated the claim. 'He was standing right there,' Rodman said. Kim's uncle Jang, once considered a mentor to the young supreme leader, was arrested, swiftly tried for treason and executed on December 12, according to state media. Purged: Jang Song Thaek is dragged into court with his hands tied with a rope by security in a picture published in Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea . Rodman has been accused of being duped . by Pyongyang and pandering to the North Korean leader, singing 'Happy . Birthday' to Kim at an exhibition basketball game and dismissing . evidence of rampant rights abuses and repression. But . he insisted Kim wants to hold discussions with President Barack Obama . and has told him the North has nuclear weapons because it is a small . country that has to defend itself. 'He really, really wants to talk to Obama. He can't say it enough,' Rodman said. 'He's saying that he doesn't want to bomb anybody. He said, 'I don't want to kill Americans.' He loves Americans.' Duped? Rodman bows to Kim, seated above in the stands, after singing Happy Birthday to him before an exhibition basketball game with U.S. and North Korean players at an indoor stadium in Pyongyang in January . Rodman's interview comes as pressure . is mounting on North Korea, which appears to be preparing to stage a . fourth nuclear test in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions, arms . experts and US officials say. Rodman visited North Korea three times last year, in February, March and December, but he said he had been threatened with sanctions by Washington if he continued his activities in the country. 'When . I [next] go there, it’s going to be a problem coming back,' he said. 'Because they could actually stop me from coming back. They could . actually pull my passport. They already told me that. They’re afraid of . me because I know so much.' Rodman and Kim with other former NBA players at Pyongyang Gymnasium: The North Korean leader is reported to be a huge fan of basketball and especially of the Chicago Bulls, with whom Rodman won three NBA titles . The North Korean leader is reported to be a huge fan of basketball and especially of the Chicago Bulls, with whom Rodman won three NBA titles alongside Michael Jordan in the 1990s. He prompted outrage in January when he suggested in an interview with CNN that a Korean-American Christian tour operator was to blame for his imprisonment in North Korea. He later apologised and blamed his outburst on heavy drinking, checking into a rehab facility in New Jersey. Of his alcoholism, Rodman has said: 'I've always been a party animal (and) the reason I drink is because I'm bored.'
North Korean media reported execution of Jang Song Thaek in December .
But Rodman insists he was 'right there' when he visited that same month .
He claims Washington has threatened to 'pull' his passport if he visits again .
'They afraid of me because I know so much,' he adds, cryptically .
By . Damien Gayle . Dennis Rodman has denied reports that North Korean despot Kim Jong Un had his own uncle executed in a purge. The former NBA star, known in the past for his tattoos, piercings and wild behaviour, and now for his bizarre friendship with Kim, insisted in an interview the uncle was still alive. His denial comes despite reports carried on North Korea's own state media that Jang Song Thaek was executed in December for 'anti-state acts'. Kim Jong-Un and Dennis Rodman chat at a basketball game in Pyongyang: Rodman has claimed Kim's uncle is alive, despite reports on North Korea's own media that he was executed in December for 'anti-state acts' Besties: Kim and Rodman embrace during the former NBA star's visit to North Korea in March last year . Speaking in an interview with luxury U.S. magazine DuJour, Rodman said: 'You could say anything here about North Korea and people would believe it. 'The last time I went there, when they said they killed his girlfriend, they killed his uncle, they just fed him to the dogs ... They were standing right behind me.' The journalist conducting the interview, Lindsay Silberman, asked him to clarify, pointing out that the North Korean regime has made clear the uncle was executed – but Rodman repeated the claim. 'He was standing right there,' Rodman said. Kim's uncle Jang, once considered a mentor to the young supreme leader, was arrested, swiftly tried for treason and executed on December 12, according to state media. Purged: Jang Song Thaek is dragged into court with his hands tied with a rope by security in a picture published in Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea . Rodman has been accused of being duped . by Pyongyang and pandering to the North Korean leader, singing 'Happy . Birthday' to Kim at an exhibition basketball game and dismissing . evidence of rampant rights abuses and repression. But . he insisted Kim wants to hold discussions with President Barack Obama . and has told him the North has nuclear weapons because it is a small . country that has to defend itself. 'He really, really wants to talk to Obama. He can't say it enough,' Rodman said. 'He's saying that he doesn't want to bomb anybody. He said, 'I don't want to kill Americans.' He loves Americans.' Duped? Rodman bows to Kim, seated above in the stands, after singing Happy Birthday to him before an exhibition basketball game with U.S. and North Korean players at an indoor stadium in Pyongyang in January . Rodman's interview comes as pressure . is mounting on North Korea, which appears to be preparing to stage a . fourth nuclear test in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions, arms . experts and US officials say. Rodman visited North Korea three times last year, in February, March and December, but he said he had been threatened with sanctions by Washington if he continued his activities in the country. 'When . I [next] go there, it’s going to be a problem coming back,' he said. 'Because they could actually stop me from coming back. They could . actually pull my passport. They already told me that. They’re afraid of . me because I know so much.' Rodman and Kim with other former NBA players at Pyongyang Gymnasium: The North Korean leader is reported to be a huge fan of basketball and especially of the Chicago Bulls, with whom Rodman won three NBA titles . The North Korean leader is reported to be a huge fan of basketball and especially of the Chicago Bulls, with whom Rodman won three NBA titles alongside Michael Jordan in the 1990s. He prompted outrage in January when he suggested in an interview with CNN that a Korean-American Christian tour operator was to blame for his imprisonment in North Korea. He later apologised and blamed his outburst on heavy drinking, checking into a rehab facility in New Jersey. Of his alcoholism, Rodman has said: 'I've always been a party animal (and) the reason I drink is because I'm bored.'
own state media that Jang Song Thaek was executed that he was executed in December for 'anti-state standing right there,' Rodman said. Kim's uncle pandering to the North Korean leader, singing if he continued his activities in the country. could . actually pull my passport. They already told me that. They’re afraid of . me because I know so much.' Rodman and Kim with other former