‘Call of Duty’ has Pyongyang invading Seoul, and it’s topping the charts

Seoul, October 25 - The latest installment of the Call of Duty video game series, titled Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, has become a top-selling game in South Korea despite the region's ongoing tensions with North Korea. The game, set against the backdrop of escalating tensions between the United States and Russia, features a North Korean invasion of South Korea.

The release of the game follows a recent incident in which an explosion at the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) injured three South Korean soldiers, further heightening the region's political tensions. The game's storyline encompasses various characters, including a squad of young American and South Korean soldiers, a vengeful former serviceman, and a new North Korean leader, whose actions can be controlled by players.

As South Korea requires able-bodied men to serve between 18 and 21 months in the military, the game's realistic portrayal of the country's defense forces has garnered significant interest. The campaign begins with a surprise invasion of South Korea by North Korean forces, who use paratroopers and an underground tunnel to outmaneuver South Korean and US troops.

While some South Korean gamers have expressed positive reactions to the game, others have criticized it for turning the tragedy of the Korean War and current antagonism between the two nations into entertainment. North Korean state media recently urged its military to become the strongest in the world, further escalating regional tensions.