Hollywood rendition of Kim Jong-un sparks threats of war from North Korea

If the US allows and defends screening of the film, a merciless counter-measure will be taken, warns North Korea.

In reaction to a forthcoming Hollywood movie about killing Kim Jon-un, North Korea has warned of “merciless” retaliation, the BBC reported on Wednesday.

The release of the movie was termed as an “act of war,” by a North Korean foreign ministry spokesperson.

A Hollywood movie with a similar plot titled The Interview is slated to release in October, however the North Korean spokesperson did not mention the title of the movie.

The comedy-action film stars Hollywood actors Seth Rogen and James Franco.

Rogen and Franco play a producer and talkshow host in the movie who are invited to interview Kim Jong-un but are then recruited by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to assassinate the North Korean leader - televised redux of Bay of Pigs.

The trailer, released on Youtube, shows fight scenes which include what seem to be North Korean helicopters and tanks, as well as a nuclear missile launch. The trailer also shows an actor portraying Kim Jong-un.

"Making and releasing a movie on a plot to hurt our top-level leadership is the most blatant act of terrorism and war and will absolutely not be tolerated," the spokesperson was quoted as saying by state news agency KCNA.

The spokesperson further said that the movie was challenging the North Korean leadership and was prompting “a gust of hatred and rage” among the soldiers and North Korean civilians.

He also said that “If the US administration allows and defends the showing of the film, a merciless counter-measure will be taken.”

Last week, apparent evidence supported claims of North Korea developing its missile technology further. A new anti-ship cruise missile shown in the film had been identified by some experts, however other observers were more sceptical.

Three Americans are in custody of North Korea, of which a tourist named Jeffrey Edward Fowle – who reportedly left a Bible in a hotel – is said to be the latest person who was detained.

Rogen – who is also a director of The Interview – said he was inspired by journalists’ trips to North Korea.

“People have the hypothetical discussion about how journalists have access to the world's most dangerous people, and they hypothetically would be in a good situation to assassinate them,” Rogen said to Yahoo.

Originally, the film was about meeting Kim Jong-il, but the script had to be revised when the former North Korean leader passed away in 2011 after which Kim Jong-un, his son, came in power, Rogen added.