Angry Dennis Rodman defends North Korea basketball game

(CNN) -- Eccentric basketball star Dennis Rodman Tuesday defended his controversial visit to North Korea with a team of former NBA players, saying it was a 'great idea for the world.'

In an exclusive interview with Chris Cuomo of CNN's 'New Day,' Rodman reacted angrily when pressed on whether the party should have traveled there given recent events in the secretive country.

The trip takes place just weeks after North Korea shocked the world by announcing the purge and execution of Kim's once-powerful uncle. There are also concerns for the welfare of U.S. citizen Kenneth Bae, who's been detained for more than a year for unknown crimes.

The other former NBA players are due to take part in a controversial basketball game on the birthday of Kim Jong Un, the country's young, unpredictable leader. The friendly contest is planned for Wednesday, when Kim is believed to turn 31.

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Apparently referring to Kim, Rodman said, 'I love my friend. This is my friend.' He also pointed out that Kim is only 31 years old.

Rodman praised the players who came with him to North Korea, saying others had pulled out of the trip. 'It's amazing how we thrive on negativity,' he said.

The trip to North Korea will help open doors to the rest of the world, Rodman said.

'It's all about the game, people love to do one thing,' he said. 'This is what we are trying to do.'

Asked if he would take the opportunity to ask North Korean leaders about Bae, Rodman suggested Bae had done something wrong but did not say what.

Growing increasingly angry with his interviewer, Rodman said. 'I don't give a rat's ass what the hell you think ... You are the guy behind the mic right now ... we are the guys who have to go back to America and take the abuse.'

'He's got a great heart'

Fellow player Charles D. Smith sought to defend Rodman, saying the visit was about basketball, not politics.

The players were invited by North Korea, Smith said, and are here as a kind of 'cultural exchange' and to 'put smiles on people's faces,' not influence the country's leaders.

'We've been doing these games for three-and-a-half years,' he said. 'Outside of what you 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.'

Smith outlined the charity projects he has been involved in worldwide through his sport, including visiting typhoon victims in Asia.

'We're doing what we do, we play basketball and that's what we love to do,' Smith said.

'We didn't know it was going to take this kind of negative spin with what we are doing because we're not politicians, we're not ambassadors. We're here to do what we've been doing most of our lives.'

Smith apologized for 'the storm that has been created by our presence.'

He also suggested that Rodman's use of the word 'friend' for Kim Jong Un should not be taken at face value.

Darren Prince, Rodman's agent for 16 years, told CNN on Sunday that Kenny Anderson, Cliff Robinson, Vin Baker, Craig Hodges, Doug Christie, and Smith would play against the North Korean Senior National Team

The current trip is Rodman's fourth to the isolated nation, part of a project he has described as 'basketball diplomacy.'

But the U.S. State Department says that it has nothing to do with Rodman's visits to North Korea and that attention should be focused on the brutality of Kim's regime.

'Friend for life'

Rodman, 52, struck up an unlikely friendship with Kim when he traveled to North Korea for the first time in February, bringing a team of Harlem Globetrotters for an exhibition game watched by Kim, who is a basketball fan.

Kim later met and dined with the flamboyant basketball star, and Rodman told his host he 'had a friend for life,' shrugging off international condemnation of the country's human rights record.

However, on his last trip, which took place last month less than a week after North Korea announced the execution of Kim's uncle and top aide, Jang Song Thaek, Rodman didn't get to meet Kim.

The international outcry over the killing of Jang prompted Paddy Power, the online betting company that had supported Rodman's project, to withdraw its association with the event.

But Rodman has pressed on with the plan. He met and coached the North Korean team on his previous trip last month.