Russia calls Sony’s North Korea comedy The Interview ‘scandalous’, slams the US

Russia has slammed the United States over a raunchy comedy featuring a fictional plot to kill North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, saying Pyongyang’s anger was understandable.

On Christmas Day, The Interview – which has become an unlikely symbol of free speech in the West – opened in crowded US movie theatres.

An expletive-laden tale full of sexual innuendo and scatological humour, the film’s future had been in doubt after entertainment giant Sony said it was cancelling the release following an embarrassing cyberattack on its corporate network and threats against moviegoers.

The US has blamed the hacker attack on North Korea, and President Barack Obama has threatened reprisals.

Russia, which backs the Pyongyang regime, said it was concerned by the latest escalation of tension between the North and Washington and slammed the irreverent comedy.

“The very idea of the film is so aggressive and scandalous that the reaction of the North Korean side ... is completely understandable,” foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said on Thursday.