HBO documentary series Vice aired its most controversial episode yet on Friday, featuring former NBA star Dennis Rodman and a diplomatic trip to North Korea.
Rodman was criticized for calling North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un his "friend for life" despite the country's egregious human rights violations and nuclear threats.
The crew that traveled to North Korea emphasized how eerie it was there — the shopping mall was completely deserted, the city's skyscrapers were well-lit despite an ongoing energy crisis, and the everything about the trip seemed staged by the North Korean government.
The trip was heavily controlled by the government, and Vice says they were told what the could and could not record on video.
You can subscribe to HBO and watch the episode or check out our highlights.
The idea behind the episode is using basketball as a common ground to start a dialogue with North Koreans and get into the country for a first-hand tour.
From hbo.vice.com.
It's long been known that North Koreans like basketball. Madeleine Albright once gave Kim Jong-Il a basketball signed by Michael Jordan.
From hbo.vice.com.
The Vice crew got a tour of North Korean capital Pyongyang, led by government handlers.
From hbo.vice.com.
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