Reason.com - Free Minds and Free Markets
Reason logo Reason logo
  • Latest
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Subscribe
    • Crossword
  • Video
    • Reason TV
    • The Reason Roundtable
    • Just Asking Questions
    • Free Media
    • The Reason Interview
  • Podcasts
    • All Shows
    • The Reason Roundtable
    • The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie
    • The Soho Forum Debates
    • Just Asking Questions
  • Volokh
  • Newsletters
  • Donate
    • Donate Online
    • Donate Crypto
    • Ways To Give To Reason Foundation
    • Torchbearer Society
    • Planned Giving
  • Subscribe
    • Reason Plus Subscription
    • Gift Subscriptions
    • Print Subscription
    • Subscriber Support

Login Form

Create new account
Forgot password

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

Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL
Media Contact & Reprint Requests
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.

Start your day with Reason. Get a daily brief of the most important stories and trends every weekday morning when you subscribe to Reason Roundup.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

NEXT: Alleged Cleveland Kidnapper Was an Abuser, Says Ex

Ed Krayewski is a former associate editor at Reason.

CultureWorldNorth KoreaForeign Policy
Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL
Media Contact & Reprint Requests

Hide Comments (27)

Editor's Note: As of February 29, 2024, commenting privileges on reason.com posts are limited to Reason Plus subscribers. Past commenters are grandfathered in for a temporary period. Subscribe here to preserve your ability to comment. Your Reason Plus subscription also gives you an ad-free version of reason.com, along with full access to the digital edition and archives of Reason magazine. We request that comments be civil and on-topic. We do not moderate or assume any responsibility for comments, which are owned by the readers who post them. Comments do not represent the views of reason.com or Reason Foundation. We reserve the right to delete any comment and ban commenters for any reason at any time. Comments may only be edited within 5 minutes of posting. Report abuses.

  1. Aresen   12 years ago

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

    1. The Immaculate Trouser   12 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   12 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)   12 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   12 years ago

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

      1. Voros McCracken   12 years ago

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

    5. Paul.   12 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   12 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)   12 years ago

      Tomorrow or next year?

      1. sam the man   12 years ago

        Game 3 is on Friday.

  3. Hugh Akston   12 years ago

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

    1. Paul.   12 years ago

      I will not take that bet.

  4. Ken Shultz   12 years ago

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

    1. Hugh Akston   12 years ago

      You forgot the scare quotes around the word comedy.

      1. Paul.   12 years ago

        He forgot scare quotes around the word movie.

      2. Ken Shultz   12 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   12 years ago

          I laughed at the dog bit.

  5. sulphurbottom   12 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   12 years ago

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

  7. PapayaSF   12 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   12 years ago

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

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

  8. WomSom   12 years ago

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

    http://www.GotDatAnon.tk

  9. G-dub   12 years ago

    Can we trade Rodman for Bae?

  10. Rufus J. Firefly   12 years ago

    Fuck you, Arec Badwin!

    If Rodman pulls it off close down all diplomacy schools.

    1. cavalier973   12 years ago

      Close 'em down, anyway.

  11. Voros McCracken   12 years ago

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

    1. cavalier973   12 years ago

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

Please log in to post comments

Mute this user?

  • Mute User
  • Cancel

Ban this user?

  • Ban User
  • Cancel

Un-ban this user?

  • Un-ban User
  • Cancel

Nuke this user?

  • Nuke User
  • Cancel

Un-nuke this user?

  • Un-nuke User
  • Cancel

Flag this comment?

  • Flag Comment
  • Cancel

Un-flag this comment?

  • Un-flag Comment
  • Cancel

Latest

New York Doubles Down on Delivery Wage Disaster

C. Jarrett Dieterle | 10.11.2025 7:00 AM

California's Fast Food Minimum Wage Hike Cost the State 18,000 Jobs. That Shouldn't Surprise Anyone.

Peter Suderman | From the November 2025 issue

Video Shows Federal Agents Arresting a Chicago Journalist. They Now Say She Threw Objects at Their Vehicle.

C.J. Ciaramella | 10.10.2025 5:20 PM

This Indiana City Doesn't Have To Pay an Innocent Mom $16,000 After Police Wrecked Her Home, Court Rules

Billy Binion | 10.10.2025 5:05 PM

Trump Won't Invoke the Insurrection Act—As Long As He Can Use the National Guard However He Wants

Jacob Sullum | 10.10.2025 4:55 PM

Recommended

  • About
  • Browse Topics
  • Events
  • Staff
  • Jobs
  • Donate
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Media
  • Shop
  • Amazon
Reason Facebook@reason on XReason InstagramReason TikTokReason YoutubeApple PodcastsReason on FlipboardReason RSS

© 2025 Reason Foundation | Accessibility | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Take Reason's short survey for a chance to win $300
Take Reason's short survey for a chance to win $300
Take Reason's short survey for a chance to win $300