Dennis Rodman has vowed never to return to North Korea following his controversial visit in January (14).

The former basketball star has struck up a friendship with the country's dictator Kim Jong-un and during his trip earlier this year (14) he was caught on camera singing Happy Birthday to him.

Rodman's trip sparked a wave of criticism and he checked into rehab upon his return to the U.S.

The sports icon has now given an emotional interview in which he declares he will never return to North Korea.

Rodman is seen with tears rolling down his face as he tells Espn, "What makes me so damn bad? What makes me this bad, awful person?... I don't want people to look at me as the devil or evil person. If I put anyone in harm's way, I apologise, you know... If you don't want me to go back there ever again, I won't go back."

When asked about his stint in rehab, Rodman insists he didn't enrol in the program to address a drinking problem, but instead wanted to "decompress from all the things I was going through". He claims he will return for treatment every six months "to see where I'm at".