Former NBA star Dennis Rodman says his "friend for life", the young dictator of North Korea Kim Jong-Un, wants President Obama to give him a call,
"He wants Obama to do one thing -- call him," Rodman told ABC's "This Week" news program.
Tensions between the U.S. and North Korea have been high for decades ever since the stalemate that ended the Korean War. However, a recent nuclear bomb test by the Hermit Kingdom has raised concerns among diplomats across the world.
Over the last few months, North Korean officials at the propaganada ministry released several ant-American videos that have surfaced on YouTube. Among them is a roughly 3-minute long video showing a North Korean soldier sleeping and dreaming about a nuclear bomb exploding over New York City. The video included the instrumental of Michael Jackson's 1980's hit "We are the World."
Rodman added another twist to the strange and hostile relationship between the U.S. and North Korea by visiting the country last week with the Harlem Globetrotters. During his stay Rodman was seen having drinks with Kim and the two watched a friendly basketball game. Rodman reportedly told Kim he has a "friend for life."
Rodman has told ABC that he's "not apologizing" for the atrocities committed by the North Korean regime headed by Kim, adding that he is not a diplomat and that he does not condone the North Korean government's human rights abuses.
When asked by reporters about what he thought of North Korea's prison camps, Rodman replied: "We do the same thing here."
Kim's friendly relationship with Rodman may stem from the basketballer's years with the Chicago Bulls. Reportedly Kim is a big basketball fan.
Rodman also mentioned that he plans on heading back. "I'm going to go back and do one thing, find out more what's really going on," he said, adding comically, "Don't hate me."