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

Politics

Dennis Rodman to Visit North Korea, Try to Secure Release of American Prisoner

Returning to visit Kim Jong Un in August

Ed Krayewski | 5.10.2013 5:33 PM

Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL
Media Contact & Reprint Requests
Large image on homepages | KCNA
(KCNA)
buddy tragicomedy?
KCNA

Dennis Rodman says he's returning to North Korea in August to visit his friend, the country's totalitarian leader Kim Jong Un. In comments to TMZ, the former Bulls forward suggested his March trip may have led to an easing of tensions, asking whether Kim Jong Un eventually "put the missiles back in storage." North Korea moved its missiles away from their launch sites only this week after a period of heightening tensions. He acknowledged it was "going to be difficult" to secure the release of American prisoner Kenneth Bae, which he called on Twitter for Kim to do earlier this week. He told TMZ the dictator was his friend and "that's about it," pointing out he wasn't a diplomat and blasting  Obama for not talking to Kim himself. The Washington Post's estimation of Rodman's chances of success:

Will it work? The good news is that, in the past, North Korea has used detained Americans as leverage for concessions from the U.S., often in the form of a high-profile American visitor, which is great propaganda for the leadership. The bad news is that, famous though Rodman is, he might not be the right kind of famous.

The Post notes it previously usually took visits from former presidents (Bill Clinton in 2010 and Jimmy Carter in 2011) to get Americans released. It also mentions the case of Robert Park, who before leaving for North Korea asked that no one publicly visit to secure his release. He was arrested in 2009 and eventually let go, but still suffers from being tortured there. Bae, a tour operator, was sentenced to 15 years hard labor this month.

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: Fla. Man Fleeing from Cops Gets Bitten by Alligator

Ed Krayewski is a former associate editor at Reason.

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

Show Comments (29)

Latest

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

The Trump Administration Begins 'Substantial' Layoffs of Federal Workers

Christian Britschgi | 10.10.2025 4:15 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