Dennis Rodman sang “Happy Birthday” Wednesday to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un before leading a group of former NBA basketball players onto the court as part of Rodman’s controversial “basketball diplomacy” program.
Rodman called Kim his “best friend” as the leader watched from the stands with his family, the Associated Press reports. About 14,000 people filled Pyongyang stadium to watch the game between former American basketball stars and the North Korean team.
Calling the leader his “best friend” is a new development for the controversial relationship between the eccentric basketball star and Kim Jong Un, especially since the leader rarely meets with foreigners. Members of Congress and the NBA have denounced the friendship as dangerous and naive, and Rodman has come under intense criticism from human rights groups for not using his influence to help free American hostage Kenneth Bae, who is poor health.
Dennis Rodman Sings "Happy Birthday" To His "Best Friend," Kim Jong Un | TIME.com
The U.S. State Department has sought to distance the U.S. government from Rodman's visit.
Ahead of the trip, Seoul-based North Korean human rights activist Shin Dong-hyuk said in an open letter in the Washington Post that Rodman should talk to Kim about human rights abuses in North Korea.
Rodman said it was not his place to talk about such issues.
"People have been saying these things here and there. It doesn't really matter to me. I'm not a politician. I'm not an ambassador," he said.
"I'm just going over there to try and do something really cool for a lot of people, play some games and try to get the Korean kids to play," he said.
"Everything else I have nothing to do with. If it happens that he wants to talk about it then great. If it doesn't happen I just can't bring it up because I don't (want) him to think that I'm over here trying to be an ambassador and trying to use him as being his friend and all of a sudden I'm talking about politics. That's not going to be that way," Rodman said.
Dennis Rodman Says He's Going To North Korea For Fun, Not To Talk Politics
Earlier this year, the North called U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry a wolf with a "hideous" lantern jaw