North Korea fails to see the humor in the new Seth Rogen comedy, "The Interview."
In the movie, a talk show host (Seth Rogen) and his producer (James Franco are) are hired by the CIA to assassinate North Korea's infamous leader, Kim Jong Un. However, hilarity ensues as nothing quite goes as planned.
However, Kim Myong-chol, executive director of The Centre for North Korea-US Peace and an unofficial spokesman for the regime in Pyongyang, told The Telegraph that his country is "insulted" by the film.
"A film about the assassination of a foreign leader mirrors what the US has done in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Ukraine," he stated. "And let us not forget who killed [President John F.] Kennedy - Americans."
"In fact, President [Barack] Obama should be careful in case the US military wants to kill him as well," he warned.
In the trailer, a secret service officer claims that North Koreans believe anything that Kim Jong Un says, including that "he can speak to dolphins" and that "he never has to urinate or defecate."
Kim Myong-chol said the United States have stopped making good movies, as they are "full of assassinations and executions" and said that British films are far better and more realistic.
"James Bond is a good character and those films are much more enjoyable," he said.
Regardless, Kim Jong Un will most likely watch film about his assassination, Myong-chol said, prompting a lighthearted tweet from Seth Rogen:"Apparently Kim Jong Un plans on watching #The Interview. I hope he enjoys it!"
This is not the first time American filmmakers have received criticism for parodying the North Korean government.
In 2002, "Die Another Day" of the James Bond franchise was condemned by the North Korean state media as "dirty and cursed." The film, which stars Pierce Bronson, follows Bond as he leads a mission to North Korea, during which he is betrayed and, after seemingly killing a rogue North Korean colonel, is captured and imprisoned.
Previewers of "The Interview" have responded with mixed feelings.
"It's a comedy. A MOVIE! No one in the government made it. It has nothing to do with politics. It has nothing to do with "Americans trying to act like the heroes of the world". It is a movie aiming to make people laugh," wrote a user named Jenni. "Call it for what it is and don't blow it out of proportion. As for North Korea's opinion on it, we're talking about a dictator who had his own uncle killed for not clapping excitedly enough on his big day. Do you take anything they say that seriously?"
However, some users feel making light of killing a head of state is distasteful.
"I understand this is a comedy, but the last thing we need is a movie that mocks North Korea, let alone about assassinating their president," said one commentator on the Yahoo Movies website.
"It will only stir tensions further," the post continued.
"The Interview" is set for an October 10, 2014 release date.
