EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS PROFANE LANGUAGE

It wasn't difficult to spot former NBA star Dennis Rodman, as he emerged here in Beijing from his five day trip to North Korea.

A crowd of journalists filmed him as he showed off a trove of photographs of himself with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un....But without imprisoned American Kenneth Bae.

Expectations had been high that Rodman on his second trip to North Korea would use his friendship with Kim to secure the release of the jailed missionary. Bae was arrested upon entering a North Korean city. He was tried for hostile acts against the state and sentenced to 15 years of hard labour.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER NBA BASKETBALL PLAYER DENNIS RODMAN SAYING:

"I'll tell you one thing: Ask Obama about that. Ask Obama, ask Obama. Ask Hillary Clinton.

Rodman in-between expletives also reaffirmed his friendship with Kim.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER NBA BASKETBALL PLAYER DENNIS RODMAN SAYING