Dennis Rodman touted his diplomatic relationship and friendship with North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un and said that his efforts should put him in the running for the Nobel Peace Prize, in an interview with Sports Illustrated Tuesday.

Rodman defended the man he has been criticized for befriending.

“Fact is, he hasn’t bombed anywhere he’s threatened to yet. Not South Korea, not Hawaii, not … whatever. People say he’s the worst guy in the world. All I know is Kim told me he doesn’t want to go to war with America. His whole deal is to talk basketball with Obama. Unfortunately, Obama doesn’t want to have anything to do with him. I ask, Mr. President, what’s the harm in a simple phone call? This is a new age, man. Come on, Obama, reach out to Kim and be his friend.”

But until President Obama befriends the supreme leader to “talk basketball,” Rodman said he plans on being responsible for U.S. diplomatic relations.

“My mission is to break the ice between hostile countries, Why it’s been left to me to smooth things over, I don’t know. Dennis Rodman, of all people,” he said. “Keeping us safe is really not my job; it’s the black guy’s job. But I’ll tell you this: If I don’t finish in the top three for the next Nobel Peace Prize, something’s seriously wrong.”

Obama himself won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009.

Rodman has previously discussed his friendship with Kim on ABC’s This Week.

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