Dennis Rodman sings "Happy Birthday" to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un before an exhibition basketball game in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Wednesday, January 8. In his latest round of "basketball diplomacy," Rodman made his fourth visit to North Korea, one of the world's most totalitarian states, to participate in a basketball game between a team of North Koreans and a team of former NBA players. 
Rodman bows to Kim, seated above in the stands, before the basketball game on January 8. 
Former NBA star Doug Christie drives to the basket against North Korean players during the exhibition game. 
Former NBA star Eric "Sleepy" Floyd, center, sits with fellow American basketball players. 
Rodman and Jerry Dupree react to a play during the game. 
North Koreans applaud at the start of the game. 
Rodman, right, walks with Dupree, center, and Charles D. Smith during the exhibition game. 
Rodman tips his hat as U.S. and North Korean basketball players applaud at the end of the game. 
Christie is handed a trophy as North Korean players applaud at the end of the game. 
U.S. and North Korean basketball players raise their hands to the crowd after the game. - "I embarrassed a lot of people," Rodman says in a statement
- "I had been drinking," he says
(CNN) -- Former NBA star Dennis Rodman apologized Thursday for his much-criticized outburst about an American citizen detained in North Korea, saying he was stressed out and had been drinking when he made the remarks on CNN.
The eccentric basketball veteran is in North Korea for a controversial visit that has been rife with bizarre moments, including Rodman's rendition of "Happy Birthday" to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at a packed sports stadium on Wednesday.
In an exclusive interview Tuesday with Chris Cuomo of CNN's "New Day," Rodman provoked outrage by appearing to suggest that Kenneth Bae, who has been held in North Korea since 2012, might have done something to deserve his sentence of 15 years of hard labor.
"I want to first apologize to Kenneth Bae's family," Rodman said Thursday in a statement released by his publicist Jules Feiler. "I want to apologize to my teammates and my management team. I also want to apologize to Chris Cuomo."
Rodman to CNN: I don't give a s*** 
Rodman fiery on Kenneth Bae question 
Rodman defiant in odd N. Korea defense Bae's family had said they were appalled by Rodman's comments about the captive American.
"He was in a position to do some good and to help advocate for Kenneth," Bae's sister, Terri Chung, said Tuesday. "He refused to do so. But then instead he has chosen to hurl these outrageous accusations against Kenneth. He clearly doesn't know anything about Kenneth, about his case. And so we were appalled by that."
"I embarrassed a lot of people," said Rodman, who traveled to North Korea with other former NBA players for a basketball game against a North Korean team. "I'm very sorry. At this point I should know better than to make political statements. I'm truly sorry."
He said the day of the interview had been "very stressful."
"Some of my teammates were leaving because of pressure from their families and business associates," he said, adding that his dream of "basketball diplomacy was quickly falling apart."
"I had been drinking," he said. "It's not an excuse but by the time the interview happened I was upset. I was overwhelmed."
CNN's Faith Karimi contributed to this report.
