Rodman Rips Obama Over Inaction in Kenneth Bae Case, Returning to North Korea in August
Soon after Dennis Rodman pleaded with the leader of North Korea to release an American citizen sentenced to 15 years hard labor, the former basketball star is blasting the President for failing to take action.
Rodman said he plans on returning to the North Korea in August to try and convince the country's leader Kim Jong-Un to release Kenneth Bae, who was charged with trying to overthrow the government.
The relationship between Jong-Un and Rodman is unique insofar as the reclusive world leader was once a fan of the NBA Bulls team Rodman used to play for. Rodman has been attempting to secure the release of Bae.
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"I'm gonna try and get the guy out," Rodman told TMZ. "It's gonna be difficult."
But Rodman focused his frustrations of the situation towards President Obama, who he feels has been silent and ineffective with regards to advocating for Bae's release.
"We got a black president [who] can't even go talk to [Jong-un] … Obama can't do s---, I don't know why he won't go talk to him."
Rodman has gained an unofficial title as an American diplomat who has tried to get the two country's leaders to participate in some form of dialogue.
"He asked me to give Obama something to say and do one thing. He wants Obama to do one thing, call him," Rodman revealed after returning to the U.S.
Rodman has tried other methods, such as using social media to garner support for Bae, and reached out to Jong-Un on Twitter.
"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 said on Twitter.
Bae, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in South Korea, was arrested on Nov. 3 in the North Korean city of Rason (formerly Rajin) while escorting five European tourists. He was later sentenced to 15 years behind bars for allegedly endangering national security.
The 44-year-old tour operator apparently had links to the Christ-centered, humanitarian outreach Joseph Connection, located in Ohio, which arranges trips to restricted countries "to touch the average person."
