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Culture

Dennis Rodman Says/Tweets That He's Calling on Kim Jong Un to Release American Prisoner

A tweet's not worth the paper its printed on

Ed Krayewski | 5.8.2013 5:51 PM

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Large image on homepages | KCNA
(KCNA)
call me maybe?
KCNA

Kenneth Bae, an American tour operator, was arrested in North Korea in November and sentenced earlier this month to 15 years of hard labor. On a January visit to North Korea, former governer and presidential hopeful Bill Richardson failed even to secure a meeting with Bae. Now Dennis Rodman, who recently visited North Korea and says he considers Kim Jong Un a "friend for life", has responded to an op-ed in the Seattle Times urging him to try to secure a release for Bae. But it's only a tweet, which in full reads: "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." Kim Jong Un, not a user of Twitter, is unlikely to see Rodman's message. Rodman could call Kim, maybe? If he's got a phone number that works.

In other North Korea news, the regime has moved its missiles away from their coastal launching sites, indicating an easing of tension. It's also warned South Korea and the U.S. not to violate its sovereignty during military drills the two countries have scheduled.

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Ed Krayewski is a former associate editor at Reason.

CultureWorldNorth KoreaForeign Policy
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  1. Aresen   13 years ago

    If it gets Kenneth Bae free, I may actually forgive Rodman.

    1. The Immaculate Trouser   13 years ago

      I'm not sure I would -- but at least he'll have been a useful idiot rather than the other kind.

    2. Sevo   13 years ago

      I'll go for that, but I'm guessing he'll find out exactly how much of a 'friend' he has.

    3. Tulpa (LAOL-VA)   13 years ago

      I tend to think a flopping thug like Bill Laimbeer would have been a better BFF for "Kim" than Rodman.

    4. Fist of Etiquette   13 years ago

      A tale of redemption. Rodman could finally atone for Simon Sez.

      1. Voros McCracken   13 years ago

        Okay, wait a minute. Let's not say anything we can't take back.

    5. Paul.   13 years ago

      Beat me to it, Aresen. If I could utter something in the media that would free an innocent man from 15 years hard labor in a north Korean prison, I'd say it.

  2. sam the man   13 years ago

    Speaking of basketball players with the initials DR who once played for the Bulls, does anyone think Rose is playing Game 3?

    1. Tulpa (LAOL-VA)   13 years ago

      Tomorrow or next year?

      1. sam the man   13 years ago

        Game 3 is on Friday.

  3. Hugh Akston   13 years ago

    So who wants to bet that Un gave Rodman a fake phone number?

    1. Paul.   13 years ago

      I will not take that bet.

  4. Ken Shultz   13 years ago

    This reads like a comedy bit from a Will Farrell movie.

    1. Hugh Akston   13 years ago

      You forgot the scare quotes around the word comedy.

      1. Paul.   13 years ago

        He forgot scare quotes around the word movie.

      2. Ken Shultz   13 years ago

        I'm not a Will Farrell fan, but his movies do funny moments.

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDfQo1ANeLM

        Anyway, point stands. This whole story looks like something from a Mike Meyers, Will Farrell, or Ben Stiller Movie.

        "Dennis Rodman Tweets Kim Jong Un to Release American Prisoner" looks like a parody of the news you'd read at The Onion.

        1. cavalier973   13 years ago

          I laughed at the dog bit.

  5. sulphurbottom   13 years ago

    Blacks Surpass Whites in Voter Turnout, Census Data Show

    Last year's presidential election marked the first time since at least 1996 that African-Americans voted at a higher rate than whites or any other racial or ethnic group, data released Wednesday by the Census Bureau show.

    When measured as a share of eligible voters, blacks were the only racial or ethnic group the agency examined that saw an increase in voter participation from 2008?a year in which African-American voting levels were already high thanks to the candidacy of Barack Obama.

    The census study, the first extensive crunching of national voter-participation data since November, helps clarify the forces that drove Mr. Obama to a re-election victory amid a shaky economic recovery and high unemployment. The Associated Press reached a similar conclusion last month in a study that combined census data with election exit polling.

    So ... Michelle in '16?

  6. Kurbster   13 years ago

    Will someone please send Charles Barkley over there, so her can slam it and welcome everyone to the jam?

  7. PapayaSF   13 years ago

    It's entirely in the Nork's interest to release the guy. After all, they don't need one more mouth to feed.

    1. Sevo   13 years ago

      "After all, they don't need one more mouth to feed."

      You expect Lil' Kim to *feed* someone?!

  8. WomSom   13 years ago

    Dude is so full of himself, I am surprised his head doesnt implode!

    http://www.GotDatAnon.tk

  9. G-dub   13 years ago

    Can we trade Rodman for Bae?

  10. Rufus J. Firefly   13 years ago

    Fuck you, Arec Badwin!

    If Rodman pulls it off close down all diplomacy schools.

    1. cavalier973   13 years ago

      Close 'em down, anyway.

  11. Voros McCracken   13 years ago

    The third image in a Google Image Search for this world class diplomat.

    1. cavalier973   13 years ago

      After seeing this, I hope that Kenneth Bae remains a prisoner.

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