Dennis Rodman believes that bringing a team of former NBA players to North Korea for an exhibition game to celebrate the birthday of leader Kim Jong Un is "a great idea for the world" and doesn't seem to want to hear from anyone who holds a different view.
"It's not a good idea the one thing that we're doing. It's a great idea for the world, for the world." Rodman told CNN's Chris Cuomo during an exclusive interview on "New Day" on Tuesday morning. "People always turn down the things I do and it's weird. It's like, wow. Really?"
The interview grew increasingly weird and contentious as Cuomo questioned Rodman and his new teammates about visiting North Korea so soon after the execution of Un's uncle. When pressed about the status of U.S. citizen Kenneth Bae, who remains detained in North Korea, Rodman reacted angrily.
"I don't give a rat's ass what the hell you think," Rodman said to Cumo as the interview awkwardly lurched toward its heated conclusion.
WATCH: More Of Rodman's CNN Interview
Rodman and his unlikely group of unofficial basketball emissaries arrived in Pyongyang on Monday ahead of a game to be played on Wednesday. The team of retired NBA players and four streetballers includes former All-Stars Vin Baker and Kenny Anderson. Rodman described the exhibition contest to be played on Wednesday to The Associated Press as a "birthday present" for Kim.
Former NBA player Charles Smith, who spent the bulk of his 9-season career with the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Clippers, was thrust into the unlikely role of peacemaker during the combustible exchange between Rodman and Cuomo. Smith attempted to explain that the players' focus was on using basketball to uplift those they met in North Korea rather than to negotiate with Kim. Smith admitted that he had regrets about the political overtones obscuring what he believed to be the positive intentions of the trip.
"You say it's more complicated than basketball," Smith said. "Basketball is not complicated to us and that's what we do. We're not in here for complications. And again, we apologize for the storm that has been created from our presence. We're not apologizing for doing what we do. Those people today, the North Korean team, meeting the citizens, we're connecting people to basketball and people to people. It's all relational."