Dennis Rodman lashed out at CNN’s Chris Cuomo on Tuesday morning after the CNN host questioned his friendship with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un and his exhibition basketball game in the secretive country.

“I love my friend. This is my friend,” said Rodman, who was flanked by fellow former NBA player Charles D. Smith.

Rodman, Smith and four other former NBA players traveled to North Korea this week to play an exhibition game in honor of Kim Jong Un’s birthday. Rodman, who first traveled to the country as part of a Vice documentary last year, has been a staunch defender of his friendship with the North Korean dictator and often reiterates that he believes basketball can help open the country up to the rest of the world.

In the interview on Tuesday morning, Rodman and Cuomo debated for about seven minutes, until Rodman seemed to be close to tears.

“This is not about me,” the former NBA player, wearing his trademark sunglasses, said in the emotional interview. “If I can open the door a little bit — just a little bit …”

He then likened his efforts to the Olympics.

“No one in the world ever asks why we have the Olympics … There’s no problems. It’s all about the game.”

Throughout the interview, Cuomo asked Rodman repeatedly how he could be friends with someone who killed his own uncle. He also asked Rodman questions about American Kenneth Bae, who has been held in North Korea for over a year. The interview seemed to be the first that Rodman hasn’t sidestepped the issue by denying it was any of his business.

“The one thing about politics, Kenneth Bae did one thing. If you understand — if you understand what Kenneth Bae did,” Rodman said. “Do you understand what he did? In this country?”

“What did he do?” Cuomo said. “You tell me.”

“You tell me,” Rodman said. “You tell me. Why is he held captive?”

Smith defended Rodman’s efforts in the interview, adding to Cuomo: “We’ve been doing these games for 3½ years,” he said. “Outside of what people know of Dennis, you don’t know Dennis. He’s got a great heart, his passion is about children and families, that’s why we are here.

“We are here because it’s about doing great will around the world.”

Watch the interview below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCj99LB0hPs