Seth Rogen’s The Interview has caused its fair share of controversy, and now it might ignite a serious conflict between North Korea and South Korea.
Last December, it seemed you couldn’t go anywhere online without seeing articles, social media posts and videos discussing The Interview. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s satirical North Korea comedy angered anonymous hackers to the point where Sony and major cinema chains were threatened with terrorist attacks.
When Sony decided to give into the hackers’ demands and pull the movie back, Hollywood and world leaders alike came out in support of the movie, which came to represent the very concept of freedom of speech. The Interview was eventually released, and yeah, it was exactly as stupid and hilarious as we had imagined.
Related: The Interview review: A strong parody with a silly third act
But even though we were quick to forget the drama, South Korea (which neighbors the North Korean dictatorship, and is thus much more directly affected by Kim Jong-un’s actions) now finds itself at the center of a new conflict.
South Korean activists have long been planning to air-drop 10,000 copies of The Interview down over North Korea, and on Thursday, it might finally happen. But now, the North Korean government has responded with a promise of war.
This is no less serious than when the hackers threatened America — and the debate surrounding the issue is no less complex. After all, if the activists cancel their campaign, they are giving into the North Korean demands. If they do proceed with the air-drop, they are putting their countrymen at risk. It almost sounds like the dilemma Sony was facing, except the activists aren’t weighing up a potential financial loss – they’re really fighting against an oppressive dictatorship.
Related: Esteemed authors pen powerful open letter to Sony, urging them to release The Interview
The North Korea Central News Agency calls the activists’ plan, “the gravest politically-motivated provocation,” and “a de facto declaration of war.” South Korean residents near the North Korean border are advised to evacuate, “for their safety.”
If the balloons are launched, the North will open fire to shoot them down. The South’s military has said it would retaliate if the North attacked.
This means that if the activists go ahead with their plan, North Korea and South Korea could really go to war.
Related: Amnesty International releases The Other Interview trailer in response to Sony hack
South Korea and North Korea are actually already officially at war. Tension has been brewing for a long time, and now it seems like this activist act might just be the tipping point. It is also worth nothing that the United States has troops in South Korea, in case North Korea ever invades again, and would likely get involved with this conflict.
South Korea is considered one of the world’s most developed democracies, ranking among the highest in education and quality of healthcare. North Korea is a dictatorship with known concentration camps, which systematically oppresses, tortures and kills its subjects. An open war between these two countries is a very serious matter.