Dennis Rodman says North Korea leader Kim Jong-Un wants Barack Obama to call North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un and former NBA star Dennis Rodman watch an exhibition basketball gamein Pyongyang. THE first American to meet North Korea's new leader says Kim Jong Un doesn't want war with the US. He just wants President Barack Obama to call him. Ex-NBA star Dennis Rodman says Mr Obama and Mr Kim share a love of basketball, so "let's start there." Rodman is just back from a visit to North Korea with the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team and spent two days with Mr Kim. The US State Department on Friday distanced itself from Rodman's visit. The trip took place amid strained ties between the U.S. and North Korea over the North's recent underground nuclear test. Rodman spoke on This Week on the US network ABC.