North Korea gives evil 'a bad name' says movie villain Dr Evil

One of the big screen's most popular villains made a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live tonight to take North Korea and Sony to task over the recent controversy surrounding canned film The Interview.

Mike Myers "hijacked" the iconic American sketch show in character as Dr Evil, nemesis of British spy Austin Powers.

"Hello, I'm Dr Evil," he began.

"I've created this program because I'm furious that North Korea and Sony Pictures have both given evil organisations a bad name."

He took North Korea to task over setting easy goals.

"You're one of the most evil countries in the world and your act of war is to kill a movie?" he said.

"It's easy to kill a movie, just move it to January."

But Sony didn't get off unscathed either.

"You thought it was a joke to have James Franco assassinate Kim Jong Un?" he said.

"The man single-handedly almost killed the Oscars."

Sony pulled The Interview, which stars Franco and Seth Rogen, from cinemas after threats from hackers which the FBI has traced to North Korea.

The film depicts a fictional assassination attempt on the rogue state's dictator Kim Jong Un.

The decision was roundly condemned by everybody from Hollywood identities to US President Barack Obama.