That Time Dennis Rodman Sang Happy Birthday To Kim Jong-Un

Former NBA star Dennis Rodman sang happy birthday to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un before a basketball game. And yes, it's odd.

That Time Dennis Rodman Sang Happy Birthday To Kim Jong-Un
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​Add this to the increasingly strange friendship between former NBA star Dennis Rodman and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you." (Via Sky News)

This odd solo happened just before an exhibition basketball game between a group of former NBA players and the North Korean team. It's all part of what Rodman's called "basketball diplomacy" with the country. (Via CBS)

Two weird things about that: One, no one knows exactly what birthday Kim is celebrating. And two, Rodman is one of the only people calling it "diplomacy."

This is the former player's fourth trip to the country and third time seeing Kim. And from the looks of it, the recent headlines don't seem to faze him. (Via USA Today)

Just a few weeks ago, Kim reportedly had his uncle executed. Even closer to home for Rodman and the U.S. team is the story of U.S. citizen Kenneth Bae, who's being held in North Korea on unclear charges. (Via ABC)

It's a topic many believe Rodman should use his unlikely friendship to fix. It's also what caused him to snap during a satellite interview with CNN's Chris Cuomo Tuesday. (Via The Wire)

"If you understand ... if you understand what Kenneth Bae did ... Do you understand what he did in this country?"

"What did he do? You tell me."

"No, no, no. You tell me."

Of course, Rodman viewed the game at Pyongyang stadium as a cultural exchange with the people in North Korea, not as a conduit for discussing Bae. (Via  ITN)

But not everyone on the team was as sure about the helpfulness of the game as Rodman. Former NBA player Charles D. Smith told Sky News"I questioned whether we were doing the right thing because of the media scrutiny."

Though Rodman never said this trip was about Bae, he knows the situation. Bae's sister, Terri Chung, said in a statement that Rodman is actually making it worse and "hurling outrageous accusations" at Bae. (Via NBC)

"He is clearly uninformed about Kenneth's case, and he is certainly not in any position to pass judgment on Kenneth Bae, who has never any hostile intentions against the DPRK." (Via ABC)