Photoinitiated unimolecular decomposition rate constants of rotationally excited NO2 molecules have been measured near dissociation threshold (D-0) by employing a double resonance technique. Rotational selectivity has been achieved by using narrow-linewidth (0.015 cm(-1)) infrared excitation to prepare specific rotational levels (N'=1,3,...,15, K-a'=0) of the (1,0,1) vibrational level. The picosecond-resolution pump-probe technique has then been used to photodissociate the molecules thus tagged and to monitor the appearance of the NO product. Data have been obtained for two progressions of average excess energies, < E >-D-0: (i) 10 cm(-1)+E-101(rot) and (ii) 75 cm(-1)+E-101(rot), where < E > denotes an average over the pump laser linewidth and E-101(rot) is the rotational energy of the (1,0,1) (X) over tilde (2)A(1) intermediate vibrational level. The measured rate constants do not display any noticeable dependence on N', which is a reflection of significant rovibronic interaction. Spin-rotation interaction, which has been implicated as the main source of rovibronic coupling for small values of N', is not likely to yield such a result. A model is proposed to describe the influence of rotation on the dissociation rate. The experimental data are consistent with a Coriolis coupling mechanism causing transitions to occur between K-a levels.