North Korea-Former Chicago Bulls star Dennis Rodman recently came back from his second trip from the isolated autocratic state of North Korea. Yes the second trip, as if the first trip wasn’t questionable enough. Dennis Rodman is expecting to promote the sport of basketball and make a film. Dennis Rodman has coined the term “Basketball diplomacy” saying it could “warm relations” between the United States and North Korea. This is Deja vu event is a reflection of the ping pong diplomacy that occurred during the 1970s under President Nixon’s administration with China. This historic event with the United States and China eased tensions as the United States would lift the embargo and officially started diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China.
Since the first visit, Dennis Rodman has become good friends with the young North Korean leader Kim Jong Un; delivering a message to President Obama saying, “He just wants President Obama to give him a call.” This message came during the North Korean threat to attack American assets in the region such as Guam, Philippines, Japan, South Korea and the Western continental United States. The United States retaliated by putting missile defenses in those areas threatened by an imminent attack. Since the United States don’t have an embassy in Pyongyang (North Korean capital), the United States needs to make sure Sweden, which represents them in North Korea; can protect its interests in the country.
Analysts tend to see a pattern in North Korea’s actions. Since there is no official peace treaty between North Korea and South Korea/ United States; North Korea can threaten its Southern neighbor or Japan who is their mortal enemy since World War II, since Imperial Japan invaded, committed war crimes, and annexed them. The North Koreans usually use threats when they want something they don’t have access to. Once they get it they seem to claim down; that doesn’t mean their threats should be taken lightly as they are trying to harvest nuclear proficiency.
The second trip to North Korea by Dennis Rodman came after the threat had settled down. This time people believed he was going to the state to free imprisoned ethnic Korean US citizen Kenneth Bae. Dennis Rodman replied, “It’s not my job to ask about Kenneth Bae; ask Hillary Clinton and President Obama about that.” Though Rodman did put up on Twitter toward Kim Jong Un stated, “Do me a solid and release Bae.” The trust between these two is something that is unrivaled in international politics as Dennis Rodman got to hold Kim Jong Un’s baby daughter Ju-ae and spoke with his wife, Ms. Ri Sol-Ju. Dennis Rodman has repeatedly say, “He’s a dad, a good friend and has a beautiful family.”
Too many analysts, this is a weird relationship but, this could be essential to further understanding North Korea; which may lead to friendship as both Kim Jong Un and Barack Obama have a love for basketball. Kim Jong Un efforts to bring in western delights like Disney cartoons and pizzas are something that has never been since in North Korea until now. The tension could soon be torn down at the 38th parallel, where the Koreas are split.