Behind Enemy Lines II: Axis of Evil is the straight-to-DVD sequel to the 2001 film starring Gene Hackman and Owen Wilson.
The sequel was written 18 months ago by first-time writer/director James Dodson and filmed in Bulgaria.
"I was a stranger to what was going on in Korea before I did the research for the movie," Dodson said.
Twentieth Century Fox, which released the DVD, said its timing was coincidental.
"The timing was established months ago," said Steve Feldstein, senior vice president of marketing at Fox Home Video.
The plot of the action film revolves around a group of Navy Seals dropped into North Korea to destroy its long-range missile.
Dodson said it was natural to wonder how the balance of power would shift if the government of communist dictator Kim Jong-il developed such a missile.
"I think it's great to raise awareness, to realise what we're allowing with our apathy to happen in North Korea," said Dodson, who does not advocate a particular solution to the problem.