Kim Jong-un threatens calls Seth Rogen a “gangster filmmaker” and threatens the US with “merciless” punishment over Rogen’s new film. 

Today the North Korean government issued a rather severe statement about Seth Rogen’s upcoming film, The Interview, calling the action/comedy film an “act of war.”

The movie stars Rogen and James Franco as two journalists who score an interview with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, and are subsequently ordered by the CIA to assassinate him.  Needless to say, North Korea was none to happy at Kim Jong-un’s likeness being used in the film.  In a statement published by the state run KCNA news agency, Rogen was characterized as a “gangster filmmaker,” and officials called upon the US to block the film.

“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,” a foreign ministry spokesman said, adding that the US would face a “resolute and merciless response” if the US fails to ban the film, which is slated for release sometime later this year.

 Kim Myong-chol, an unofficial spokesperson for the North Korean government, was also critical of the film in last week’s interview with The Telegraph, where he called America “desperate,” saying, There is a special irony in this story line as it shows the desperation of the US government and American society.

He continued, “A film about the assassination of a foreign leader mirrors what the US has done in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Ukraine,” he added. “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.”

The North Korea regime is no stranger to rhetorical threats, having warned the US and other countries of “merciless” punishment multiple times.

Rogen, meanwhile, seems to be unphased, having tweeted the following:

Apparently Kim Jong Un plans on watching #TheInterview. I hope he likes it!! http://t.co/5VrsgYlydE

— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) June 20, 2014

We’d love to send Kim Jong-un Cam’ron’s “You mad!” meme, but he probably wouldn’t get it.

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