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Leaving North Korea, Rodman Assails Obama on Detained American Rodman, Leaving North Korea, Assails Obama on Its Prisoner
(about 4 hours later)
HONG KONG — Dennis Rodman left North Korea on Saturday after visiting with the country’s dictator, Kim Jong-un, and Mr. Rodman, the former basketball star, went on an expletive-laced tirade in rejecting calls that he push for the release of an American missionary who has been detained by North Korea since late last year. HONG KONG — The former basketball star Dennis Rodman left North Korea on Saturday after visiting with the country’s leader, Kim Jong-un, and unleashed an expletive-laced tirade while rejecting calls that he push for the release of an American missionary who has been detained by North Korea since late last year.
Mr. Rodman was met by reporters at the airport in Beijing after flying in from North Korea, and was asked about using his influence with Mr. Kim to urge the release of the American, Kenneth Bae, who is serving a 15-year prison sentence in a labor camp after being arrested while in the country doing Christian missionary work. Mr. Rodman was met by reporters at the airport in Beijing after arriving from North Korea and was asked about using his influence with Mr. Kim to urge the release of the American, Kenneth Bae, who is serving a 15-year prison sentence in a labor camp after being arrested while in the country doing Christian missionary work.
“Guess what? That’s not my job to ask about Kenneth Bae,” Mr. Rodman said, according to The Associated Press. Then, alluding to President Obama, he added, “Ask Obama about that. Ask Hillary Clinton,” before criticizing the two with an expletive. “Guess what? That’s not my job to ask about Kenneth Bae,” Mr. Rodman said, according to The Associated Press. Then, referring to President Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, he added, “Ask Obama about that. Ask Hillary Clinton.” Then he criticized the two with an expletive.
Mr. Rodman has developed a friendship with Mr. Kim, who since becoming leader of North Korea has presided over a government that just months ago called for the nuclear annihilation of the United States and that has a record of egregious human rights abuses. Mr. Rodman has developed a friendship with Mr. Kim, whose government just months ago called for the nuclear annihilation of the United States and has a record of egregious human rights abuses.
Mr. Rodman defended his friendship with Mr. Kim on Saturday, again resorting to an expletive. “He’s my friend for life. I don’t care what you guys think about him. I don’t give a” — and he then used a curse word before continuing — “what the world thinks about him, but he’s my friend.” Mr. Rodman defended his friendship with Mr. Kim on Saturday. “He’s my friend for life,” he said. “I don’t care what you guys think about him,” emphasizing his point with an expletive. American officials have been working recently to obtain the release of Mr. Bae as tensions have eased between the countries. North Korea is believed to be using Mr. Bae as a potential bargaining chip, but last week North Korea rescinded its invitation to Robert King, a senior American diplomat who was planning to travel to the country to try to secure Mr. Bae’s release.
American officials have been working recently to obtain the release of Mr. Bae as tensions have eased between the two countries. The North is believed to be using Mr. Bae as a potential bargaining chip, but last week North Korea rescinded its invitation to Robert King, a senior American diplomat who was planning to travel to the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, to try to secure Mr. Bae’s release. Before making the visit to see Mr. Kim, his second, Mr. Rodman had asked on Twitter for Mr. Kim to “do me a solid” and release Mr. Bae.
Before making his second visit to see Mr. Kim, Mr. Rodman had asked on Twitter for Kim to “do me a solid” and release Mr. Bae.