- Joined
- Mar 11, 2006
- Messages
- 96,099
- Reaction score
- 33,416
- Location
- SE Virginia
- Gender
- Male
- Political Leaning
- Conservative
As far as Kim is concerned, Rodman is useful for his willingness to criticize the U.S. government on behalf of North Korea's interests. The criticism makes North Korea look like the "reasonable" party with Rodman's blaming the U.S. President for the lack of diplomatic progress. In that context, it is entirely plausible that the North Korean leader could release the prisoner around the time Rodman returns to North Korea. Such a move would reward Rodman, reinforce the role he currently plays, and it would seek to highlight the "impotence" of the U.S. President/Government for its inability to secure the prisoner's release.
We already know about this. Frankly I don't think Kim is all that clever, he just lucked out with Rodman.