Earlier this month Sony released the first trailer for Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s next film The Interview, an action-comedy where Seth Rogen and James Franco infiltrate North Korea to assassinate Kim Jong-Un. At the time, it seemed a little surprising that they chose not to fictionalize the name of the country and its dictator, perhaps hoping that it would give the film some added relevance and maybe even get people thinking. Of course, they also probably knew that it would provoke a response and help give the movie some free press… which is exactly what has already happened. This week North Korea issued an official statement on the film, denouncing it as an “act of war” and demanding that the U.S. block the release of the film. Is it possible that a Seth Rogen movie might actually spark an international incident?

This week North Korea has responded to The Interview through their official news agency KCNA and an unidentified foreign ministry spokesman. Although I couldn’t find a copy of the entire statement, I have highlighted a few excerpts below:

“The act of making and screening such a movie that portrays an attack on our top leadership… is a most wanton act of terror and act of war, and is absolutely intolerable.”

“We can never forgive their explicit terrorist, provocative deed of producing a film whereby they publicly mirrored the aspiration to assassinate our highest political leader in order to decimate the key philosophy of our military and people and to get rid of our system.”

“The international community cannot disguise disturbance after watching the movie trailer that portrays Americans, the best example of terrorists, mocking and assassinating our Highest Dignity (Kim Jong Un) in broad daylight of the United States.”

“If the U.S. Government condones the screening of the film, they will have their consequences. Those criminals who mocked our leader and committed hostile crimes against our People’s Republic will be punished according to the law—wherever they hide on this globe.”

While North Korea is known for making empty threats like this, it does make you wonder if the movie could end up getting censored in some way. Granted, it’s not the first time this has happened either; Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s Team America: World Police angered North Korea due to its comedic portrayal of former leader Kim Jong-il. It does bring up an interesting question though… in spite of all that is wrong with North Korea, do they still deserve to be mocked? What do you think, is this movie crossing the line and is it wise to poke fun at a country that is a genuine nuclear threat?