North Korean media reported Friday that the isolationist regime had put its rockets on standby to attack U.S. targets. NKNews.org then pointed to an official state photo of Kim's "emergency meeting" to sign the order, which also shows Kim backed by a large map that reads, "U.S. Mainland Strike Plan."
According to NKNews, the photo appears to show missile trajectories aimed at Hawaii, Washington, D.C., and Southern California, not surprising targets given their relative geographic or political importance. But apparently, Austin, Texas -- the state capital favored by live music enthusiasts and hipsters -- also made Kim's nuclear hit list.
Though a U.S. official warned CNN that North Korea is "not a paper tiger" and State Department rep Victoria Nuland said the U.S. government would take Kim's threats seriously, analysts do not believe that North Korea's nuclear missiles are powerful enough to reach the United States.
Perplexed and amused Twitter users responded with the hashtag #whyaustin.
#whyAustin Kim Jong-Un disappointed with last Okkervil River record.
— JohnRossBowie (@JohnRossBowie) March 29, 2013
Did Portland and Brooklyn put #NorthKorea up to this? #WhyAustin ow.ly/jzxyd
— Marshall Wright (@marshallwright) March 29, 2013
Looks like SOMEone's movie didn't make the cut for SXSW #whyaustin
— Bill Willson (@BillWillson) March 29, 2013
Because hipsters and condos are going to ruin the good thing they've got going on in Pyongyang #whyaustin
— James Sarbinoff (@jsarbinoff) March 29, 2013
