PYONGYANG - Former NBA star Dennis Rodman arrived here Thursday on a third visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Retired U.S. basketball star Dennis Rodman (2nd L) shakes hands with officials upon arrival at Pyongyang airport, in this photo taken by Kyodo December 19, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

Rodman, accompanied by a documentary crew, is expected to help train the country's national basketball team for a January 8 exhibition game in Pyongyang marking the birthday of DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Un.

The five-day trip was organized by Irish bookmakers Paddy Power.

"We will talk about the schedule in detail while meeting Rodman in person. A city tour may also be chosen by him," a Sports Ministry source told Xinhua at the airport.

The source confirmed that the ministry will also make a detailed plan on the exhibition game between the DPRK basketball team and ex-NBA players.

Foreign correspondents in Pyongyang were not allowed to go into the airport, and Rodman left the airport through a "guest channel" without giving any interview.

Rodman told reporters in Beijing that he hoped to have a "good conversation" with Kim, whom he described a "friend of life."