On a recent trip to North Korea to play an exhibition basketball game, ex-NBA star Dennis Rodman got up close and personal with the rogue state's leader, Kim Jong Un.
Rodman is the highest profile American to meet with the North Korean leader since Kim inherited power from his father in 2011.
"There is nobody at the CIA who could tell you more personally about Kim Jong Un than Dennis Rodman, and that in itself is scary," said former Assistant Secretary of State Stephen Ganyard to ABC News.
Their meeting comes at a time when the U.S. and North Korea are at heightened tensions.
North Korea conducted an underground nuclear test two weeks ago, characterizing the act as provocation towards the U.S. for what it considers hostile policy.
Rodman traveled to North Korea with three members of the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team and a film crew with the new show "Vice" a news magazine, which will debut HBO in April.
Kim is known to be a fan of basketball and the sport is popular in North Korea. The exhibition game featured two Americans on each team, supported with North Korean players on each side. The game ended in a 110-110 tie. It was followed by an "epic feast."
The U.S. State Department has said North Korea's human rights record is one of the worst in the world. More than 3.5 million people have starved to death there sine 1995. Reports of forced labor camps have added to international condemnation of the state.
Rodman said he doesn't support what goes on in North Korea, but spoke well of Kim.
"I don't condone what he does, but as far as a person to person, he's my friend," he said to George Stephanopoulos on ABC News.
Rodman took the opportunity to do a little basketball diplomacy and said in the interview that Kim wants President Barack Obama to call him on the phone.
"He loves basketball. ... I said, 'Obama loves basketball.' Let's start there," Rodman said.
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