By DAILYMAIL
March 3, 2013
Ex-NBA star Dennis Rodman says North Korean leader Kim Jong Un doesn't want war with the United States. He just wants President Barack Obama to call him.
Rodman, the highest-profile American to meet Kim since Kim took power in December 2011, says Obama and Kim share a love of basketball, so 'let's start there.'
Rodman is just back from a visit to North Korea with the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team and camera crews for the upcoming HBO series 'VICE,' during which he spent two days with Kim.
Playing defense: Appearing on ABC's This Week, Rodman said North Korea's Kim Jong Un just wanted U.S. President Barack Obama to call him
Pulling out all the stops: Rodman and his group were treated to lavish dinners while the millions of North Koreans starve
In his first interview about the trip, he spoke on ABC's 'This Week.'
'He wants Obama to do one thing: Call him,' Rodman told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos. 'He said, ‘If you can, Dennis – I don’t want [to] do war. I don’t want to do war.’ He said that to me.'
The trip took place amid strained ties between the U.S. and North Korea over the North's recent underground nuclear test.
Kim is regarded as one of the world's most oppressive leaders in a nation that builds prison camps and lets millions of its citizens starve to death.
In stark contrast to the poverty of his citizens, Kim welcomed the group with a feast, ice skating, and an aquarium visit.
Upon returning, Rodman shocked many by praising Kim. 'I love him,' he said. 'He's awesome.'
He stood by the controversial statement during his ABC interview.
'No, I’m not apologiz[ing] for him,' Rodman said. 'You know, he’s a good guy to me. Guess what? He’s my friend. I don’t condone what he does … [but] as a person to person – he’s my friend.'
Rodman is the first widely-known American to meet with Kim since he became head of North Korea, succeeding his Kim Jong-II, who died in 2011.
He has followed in his father's footsteps, defying U.N. sanctions by pursing a nuclear arms and missiles program he says is aimed at the U.S.
Kim also shared a love of basketball with his father, and is particularly fond of the 1990s Chicago Bulls championship teams, which included Rodman.
On his trip the two watched an exhibition game between the Globetrotters and North Korean players, with Rodman telling Kim before the crowd, 'You have a friend for life.'
Friends: Rodman defended his controversial statements saying he was not a politician and wanted to find common ground
'I'm not a politician,' Rodman wrote on Twitter. 'Kim Jung Un & North Korean people are basketball fans. love everyone. Period. End of story.'
The U.S. State Department has distanced itself from the visit and will not debrief Rodman on the meeting.
The decision not to talk to Rodman has been characterized as 'ridiculous' by some intelligence experts.
'There is nobody at the CIA who can tell you more personally about Kim Jong Un than Dennis Rodman, and that in itself is scary,' said Steve Ganyard, a former deputy assistant secretary of state.
Rodman expects to return to North Korea.
'I'm not like a diplomat,' he said. 'I'm [going to] go back, do one thing and find out more, what’s going on. Find out more.'
[video courtesy of ABC News, copyright; all rights reserved]
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