More security planned for NYC premier of film on North Korea

The NYPD plans to beef up security at New York premiere of “The Interview” after hacker threats surfaced Tuesday.

“It’s not crystal clear whether it’s a cyber response that they are threatening, or a physical attack,” said John Miller, deputy commissioner of counterintelligence.

Additional police officers will be present for Thursday’s screening of at Landmark Sunshine Cinemas on East Houston Street. The comedy about a plan to assassinate North Korea’s leader, stars Seth Rogen and James Franco as reporters who get an exclusive interview with Kim Jong Un, who are recruited by the CIA.

“We will clearly show it [our Christmas gift] to you at the very time and places ‘The Interview’ be shown, including the premiere, how bitter fate those who seek fun in terror should be doomed to,” the hackers wrote, and later mentioned the 9/11 attacks.

Miller said the NYPD is looking into the “credibility” of the threat. A hacker group called “Guardians of Peace” sent a threatening e-mail to Sony Pictures CEO and Chairman Michael Lynton on Tuesday morning, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Press reports said North Korea may have been behind a hacking of Sony’s computer systems that revealed a trove of private-emails between top executives. Miller said the NYPD has been in touch with the FBI and Sony’s security team.

“We’ve also been down this road before with other films, some of the bin Laden films, other controversial films,” Miller said. “We know how to cover these.”

Calls to Sunshine Cinema and Sony were not immediately returned.