Rodman: It’s not my job to lobby for imprisoned Bae
Print Edition
Retired NBA star Dennis Rodman left North Korea yesterday, professing his affection for Kim Jong Un and angrily rejecting calls to lobby for the release of imprisoned American citizen Kenneth Bae.
Despite earlier calling on Kim to set Bae free, Rodman said the Christian missionary’s fate was none of his business.
“Guess what? That’s not my job to ask about Kenneth Bae,” Rodman told reporters upon arrival at Beijing.
“Ask (President Barack) Obama about that. Ask Hillary Clinton,” Rodman shouted, referencing the former US secretary of state.
Rodman displayed a stack of photos showing him hugging Kim, laughing and conversing with him over a meal, and the two of them watching a basketball game together.
The NBA Hall of Famer and five-time championship winner said the two had formed a close bond over the course of his two visits to North Korea.
“He’s my friend for life. I don’t care what you guys think about him,” Rodman said.
Rodman flashed with anger when asked about Bae, hurling obscene remarks back at reporters who quizzed him about the purpose of his trip.
Earlier, as he was leaving his hotel in Pyongyang, Rodman said that Kim had spoken about him visiting again, and that Kim “really actually wants to change things.”
North Korea’s official news agency, KCNA, said that the two had “a cordial talk,” and Kim invited Rodman back “any time.”
Bae was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for what Pyongyang described as hostile acts against the state.
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