- The Washington Times - Monday, January 13, 2014

Former basketball great Dennis Rodman said sorry on Monday once again, this time for failing to bring about any assistance for imprisoned American Kenneth Bae while visiting North Korea and presenting Kim Jong-un with a birthday exhibition game.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry I couldn’t do anything,” Mr. Rodman said at the airport in Beijing, after his fourth trip to the regime, NBC News reported. “It’s not my fault. I’m sorry. I just want to do some good stuff, that’s all I want to do.”

Mr. Rodman also said that he has plans to return to North Korea in February. He declined to give additional details about that trip, which would be his fifth in a year.

The ex-NBA star has been subjected to harsh criticism in recent days over his basketball game for Mr. Kim and for recent comments in which he implied Mr. Bae — who was sentenced to 15 years in labor camp for unclear charges related to distribution of religious materials — must have been guilty. He later apologized through his publicist for those comments and blamed it on his drinking.

On Monday, Mr. Rodman emphasized his entire trip had been one of goodwill — even the part where he sang “Happy Birthday” to Mr. Kim and appeared to bow in the minutes before the Pyongyang stadium game.

“I’m sorry for all the people and what’s going on. I’m sorry,” Mr. Rodman said, The Associated Press reported. “I’m not the president, I’m not an ambassador, I’m just an individual that wants to show the world the fact that we can actually get along and be happy for one day.”

• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.

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