Ri Myung-hun (Korean: 리명훈; born 14 September 1967), also known as Michael Ri after his favorite basketball player Michael Jordan,[1] is a North Korean former basketball player. At a height of 235 cm (7 ft 8+1⁄2 in) and a weight of 128 kg (282 lb), he is believed to be the tallest person in North Korea.
In anticipation of joining the NBA, Ri worked out in Canada, where he was scouted by numerous teams. But he was unable to play in the league because of the U.S. ban on trade with North Korea, which is set forth in a piece of legislation called the Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917.[1] The U.S. Department of State permitted Ri to compete in the country in 2000, on the main condition that none of Ri's salary could be repatriated to North Korea. North Korean officials responded by refusing to let Ri leave.[1] Kim Jong-il told NBA scout Tony Ronzone he would allow Ri to leave North Korea and play professional basketball if the team paid Kim's regime in wheat.[4] Ri was permitted to conduct an interview with CNN's Mike Chinoy in which he was quoted as saying, "I'm a big man. I want to test my ability. I am not interested in money or politics. As a sportsman, I just want to try."[2] Eventually, Ri said he was content to remain playing basketball in the "bosom" of North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong-il.[1] In a game between mixed teams of players from North Korea and South Korea, Ri scored 26 points in 21 minutes, though his "dankyol" (solidarity) side lost 141–138.[3]
Personal life
On 28 December 2011, North Korean television showed footage from the funeral of Kim Jong-il in which an unusually tall person was seen in the crowd. The person was speculated to have been Ri Myung-hun.[5]
References
^ abcdeZeigler, Mark (29 October 2006). "The oddest fan". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
^ abChinoy, Mike (25 September 1998). "North Korean's hoop dreams a tall order: World's tallest man aims for NBA". CNN. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
^ ab. CNN Sports Illustrated. Associated Press. 23 December 1999. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
^Titus, Mark (30 July 2014). "My Trip to NBA Scout School". Grantland. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
^Hooton, Christopher (30 December 2011). "'Giant North Korean soldier' rumoured to be basketball star Ri Myung Hun". Retrieved 1 January 2012.
myung, korean, 리명훈, born, september, 1967, also, known, michael, after, favorite, basketball, player, michael, jordan, north, korean, former, basketball, player, height, weight, believed, tallest, person, north, korea, ottawa, macdonald, cartier, international. Ri Myung hun Korean 리명훈 born 14 September 1967 also known as Michael Ri after his favorite basketball player Michael Jordan 1 is a North Korean former basketball player At a height of 235 cm 7 ft 8 1 2 in and a weight of 128 kg 282 lb he is believed to be the tallest person in North Korea Ri Myung hunRi at Ottawa Macdonald Cartier International Airport in May 1999Personal informationBorn 1967 09 14 14 September 1967 age 55 North KoreaNationalityNorth KoreanListed height235 cm 7 ft 9 in Listed weight128 kg 282 lb Korean nameChosŏn gŭl리명훈Hancha李明勲Revised RomanizationRi Myeong hunMcCune ReischauerRi MyŏnghunBasketball career EditRi played the center position for the national basketball team of the Democratic People s Republic of Korea Once proclaimed to be the tallest living human being in the world 2 he stands 236 cm 7 ft 9 in tall and once planned to play in the National Basketball Association NBA in the 1990s 1 According to the Associated Press he was the world s tallest basketball player 3 In anticipation of joining the NBA Ri worked out in Canada where he was scouted by numerous teams But he was unable to play in the league because of the U S ban on trade with North Korea which is set forth in a piece of legislation called the Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917 1 The U S Department of State permitted Ri to compete in the country in 2000 on the main condition that none of Ri s salary could be repatriated to North Korea North Korean officials responded by refusing to let Ri leave 1 Kim Jong il told NBA scout Tony Ronzone he would allow Ri to leave North Korea and play professional basketball if the team paid Kim s regime in wheat 4 Ri was permitted to conduct an interview with CNN s Mike Chinoy in which he was quoted as saying I m a big man I want to test my ability I am not interested in money or politics As a sportsman I just want to try 2 Eventually Ri said he was content to remain playing basketball in the bosom of North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong il 1 In a game between mixed teams of players from North Korea and South Korea Ri scored 26 points in 21 minutes though his dankyol solidarity side lost 141 138 3 Personal life EditOn 28 December 2011 North Korean television showed footage from the funeral of Kim Jong il in which an unusually tall person was seen in the crowd The person was speculated to have been Ri Myung hun 5 References Edit a b c d e Zeigler Mark 29 October 2006 The oddest fan San Diego Union Tribune Retrieved 27 March 2010 a b Chinoy Mike 25 September 1998 North Korean s hoop dreams a tall order World s tallest man aims for NBA CNN Retrieved 27 March 2010 a b World s tallest player Ri stands out packs stadium in Seoul CNN Sports Illustrated Associated Press 23 December 1999 Archived from the original on 6 January 2014 Retrieved 27 March 2010 Titus Mark 30 July 2014 My Trip to NBA Scout School Grantland Retrieved 31 July 2014 Hooton Christopher 30 December 2011 Giant North Korean soldier rumoured to be basketball star Ri Myung Hun Retrieved 1 January 2012 Preceded byAlam Channa Tallest Recognized Person1998 Succeeded byRadhouane Charbib This biographical article relating to a North Korean basketball figure is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ri Myung hun amp oldid 1126274144, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
