The First True Test Of Dennis Rodman-North Korea Diplomacy

Dennis Rodman made headlines with his trip to North Korea earlier this year.

Now his special relationship with Kim Jong-un is being put to the test. The former Chicago Bull just tweeted:

I'm calling on the Supreme Leader of North Korea or as I call him "Kim", to do me a solid and cut Kenneth Bae loose.

— Dennis Rodman (@dennisrodman) May 7, 2013

Rodman is referring to the case of Kenneth Bae, a 44-year-old who grew up in Washington state and was arrested in North Korea last November and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor last month.

Bae's precise crime is unclear, but the latest information suggests he was working as a Christian missionary.

A common analysis is that Bae may be used as a bargaining chip by North Korea to re-open dialogue with the U.S.

In 2009, American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee were sentenced to 12 years of hard labor after crossing the border from China. The pair were later pardoned and released after a visit by former U.S. President Bill Clinton.