Dennis Rodman Plans New North Korean Trip
Published at
Jim Rogash/Getty Images(PYONGYANG, North Korea) — Dennis Rodman, the flamboyant former NBA star turned unlikely diplomat of sorts, is planning a second visit to North Korea, this time with the goal of asking his new friend Kim Jong-un to release an American citizen currently jailed there.
Kenneth Bae, 44, has been sentenced to 15 years of hard labor after being accused of smuggling antigovernment propaganda into the country.
Though many are working so secure his release, Rodman had some harsh words about President Barack Obama’s ability to get the job done.
“Obama can’t do s–,” Rodman said in a rant on TMZ.com. “We got a black president [that] can’t even go and talk to him, how ‘bout that one?”
Rodman visited North Korea in February 2013, and he watched a basketball game with Jong Un, telling him “you have a friend for life.”
Rodman faced criticism for the visit and his relationship with the dictator, who he described as a “great guy,” during an interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos.
Rodman is hoping Jong Un will be a good friend and listen to him.
“I’m calling on the Supreme Leader of North Korea or as I call him ‘Kim’, to do me a solid and cut Kenneth Bae loose,” Rodman tweeted on Tuesday.
Despite his claims, and his odd friendship with the brutal Communist dictator, the United States isn’t putting their faith in the former all-star, according to ABC’s global affairs correspondent Martha Raddatz.
“Look, last time he went over there as soon as he got back Kim Jong Un threatened to launch those missiles. We had a diplomatic crisis for months so I don’t think Dennis Rodman did much good last time,” Raddatz said.
“Of course, everybody is hoping that the American is released. If Dennis Rodman can do something towards that end that’s great, but nobody’s counting on it.”
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio