Former NBA star Dennis Rodman just got back from visiting his "friend for life," North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong-Un. The U.S.A's unofficial ambassador embarked on a mission of "basketball diplomacy" but failed to bring up freeing the imprisoned American citizen Kenneth Bae.
Dennis Rodman and Kim Jong-Un have a special friendship. The former Chicago Bull and the Supreme Commander first met in February, when Rodman was promoting basketball. Kim, a huge fan of the sport, welcomed Rodman with open arms.
Rodman insist that his friendship with Jong-Un could improve relations between North Korea and the U.S. However, the NBA Hall of Famer is not a diplomat.
Upon his return, Rodman flipped out at reporters in Beijing's airport when they asked if he attempted to use his influence to help free imprisoned American missionary Kenneth Bae.
Rodman told Reuters: "That's not my job to ask about Kenneth Bae. Ask Obama about that. Ask Hillary Clinton, I don't give a s--t."
This came as a surprise as hopes were high that Rodman may have been able to talk Kim into pardoning Bae.
Kenneth Bae, an American citizen, was arrested earlier this year and sentenced to 15 years hard labor, for unspecified "hostile acts."
Bae, also a missionary, is reportedly in bad health. The 45-year-old diabetic has reportedly told family that he his going blind and desperately needs help.
Before embarking on his trip, Rodman told the Associated Press:
“My main plan is basically to come over here to, not to be a diplomat, to become a friend of the marshal and the country of North Korea, and just to show people around the world that we as Americans can actually get along with North Korea. I’m an athlete, and I know the marshal, he loves sports, he loves basketball, so I guess that me and him have something in common. So I’m here to visit him to see how he’s doing, see how the family’s doing, and just to revisit the country.”
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