Dennis Rodman is trying to use his pull with new buddy Kim Jong Un to get a Korean-American man released from his sentence of hard labor in North Korea.

Rodman, who was recently introduced at a fundraiser as the U.S. Ambassador for North Korea, has called Jong-Un “awesome” and has made plans to return for a hang-out session with his new buddy in August. His new mission, according to Twitter, is to get the controversial leader to pardon Kenneth Bae, who was arrested in November for unspecified “hostile acts” against the state. Bae, who is from Washington state, allegedly entered the country under an assumed identity.

I’m calling on the Supreme Leader of North Korea or as I call him “Kim”, to do me a solid and cut Kenneth Bae loose.

— Dennis Rodman (@dennisrodman) May 7, 2013

Some are saying that North Korea may be using Bae as an excuse to get the U.S. to negotiate regarding their nuclear arms program, and interestingly, Rodman commented on the leader’s reported tactics.

“I’m not a total idiot. I know what Kim Jong-un is threatening to do regarding his military muscle. I hope it doesn’t happen because America will take whatever actions to protect America and our allies,” he said.