Dennis Rodman sings 'Happy Birthday' to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un

Former NBA star Dennis Rodman, in Pyongyang for a basketball exhibition, sang "Happy Birthday" to his "good friend," North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday.

Sky News captured Rodman singing "Happy Birthday" to the Supreme Leader at the basketball stadium, where he and other former professional players were playing the North Korean Senior National Team.

In the video, Sky News recorded Rodman speaking about the day's events. "I think it's a very historical day today for everyone in the world to see that we can coexist with each other if we just take a deep breath and absorb this, how we look at certain things. So, that, I think it went very well for everyone involved."

In an interview with an unidentified member of Rodman's entourage, a former professional basketball player reflected on their trip to Pyongyang, saying "I question whether we were doing the right thing because of the media scrutiny. And it was important to stand strong and follow up and follow through, and it all just worked out."

The media scrutiny was due in large part to remarks Rodman made during a CNN interview on Tuesday in which he became irate when asked if he would leverage his friendship with the Supreme Leader to help free detained Korean-American Kenneth Bae from North Korean custody. Rodman implied Bae's guilt and would not agree to use his North Korean connections to effect Bae's release. Bae's family was "appalled" by Rodman's statements and the White House responded by urging the North Korean government to grant "amnesty and immediate release" to Bae.

Rodman's controversial "basketball diplomacy" January visit comes nearly a month after Kim Jong Un had his uncle and former mentor executed for treason. Relations between North Korea and the United States are increasingly strained. In addition to detaining Bae, North Korea detained an 85-year-old American Korean War veteran for over a month prior to his December 2013 release.

[YouTube] [UPI]