The company told the Associated Press news agency they hoped to engage in some "basketball diplomacy".

BBC: Basketball player Dennis Rodman visits North Korea

Military observer Chen Guangwen criticises the US government for a "Cold War mentality" in distancing itself from retired NBA star Dennis Rodman's "basketball diplomacy" trip to North Korea.

BBC: China media: Analysing North Korea

Turning to international news, Zhang Liangui, North Korea expert at the Communist Party's Central Party School, welcomes a visit to North Korea by US basketball stars as well as earlier visits by the head of Google and the New York Philharmonic, but dismisses any notion of "basketball diplomacy".

BBC: China media: Opinions divided on Congress