Rodman’s final words on the show were: 'Don’t hate me.' | Lorenzo Bevilaqua/ABC Television Dennis Rodman: 'Not apologizing'

Former NBA star Dennis Rodman, sitting down with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos in the “This Week” studio in New York on Sunday morning, defended his basketball diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and said the young leader “don’t want war – that’s one thing he don’t want.”

Asked by Stephanopoulos about Kim’s threats to destroy the United States, and his family’s horrendous record on human rights, Rodman said: “I don’t condone that. I hate the fact that he’s doing that. … I didn’t talk about that. …I saw people respected him, his family. … “[He’s] only 28 — 28. He’s not his dad. He’s not his grandpa. He is 28 years old. … He’s very humble. He’s a very humble man. … He don’t want war – that’s one thing he don’t want. … He loves power. He loves control, because of his father, you know – stuff like that. But he’s just — he’s a great guy. He’s just a great guy. You sit down and talk to him.”


Pressed by Stephanopoulos on the 200,000 people in North Korean camps, Rodman said: “We do the same things here.”

( PHOTOS: Dennis Rodman, Kim Jong Un in North Korea)

Stephanopoulos: “It sounds like you’re apologizing for him.”

Rodman: “No, I’m not apologizing for him. … He was a great guy to me. He was my friend. I don’t condone what he does. But as a person to person, he’s my friend. … What I did was history. … He’s a friend to me. That’s about it.”

Asked if he will to go back to Pyongyang, Rodman said: “Yes, I am. I’m going to back … and find out more what’s really going on.”

Stephanopoulos: “OK, next time you go back, you should bring this report from Human Rights Watch … maybe ask some questions about that. You might learn a lot more and it might press him, as well. But thank you for coming on this morning and sharing your impressions.”

Rodman’s final words on the show were: “Don’t hate me.”