North Korea insists it is not responsible for Sony cyberattack, proposes joint US probe
PUBLISHED : Saturday, 20 December, 2014, 7:51pm
UPDATED : Sunday, 21 December, 2014, 3:39am
Reuters in Seoul
A woman takes a picture of a poster for the film 'The Interview' outside the Regal Theater in New York on Thursday. Photo: EPA
North Korea said US accusations that it was involved in a cyberattack on Sony Pictures were "groundless slander" and that it wanted a joint investigation into the incident with the United States.
An unnamed spokesman of the North's foreign ministry said there would be "grave consequences" if Washington refused to agree to the joint probe and continued to accuse Pyongyang, the official KCNA news agency reported yesterday.
On Friday, President Barack Obama blamed North Korea for the devastating cyberattack, which led to the Hollywood studio cancelling The Interview, a comedy on the fictional assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
In its first substantive response to the accusation, North Korea said it could prove it had nothing to do with the massive hacking attack.
"We propose to conduct a joint investigation with the US in response to groundless slander being perpetrated by the US by mobilising public opinion," the North Korean spokesman said.
"If the US refuses to accept our proposal ... and continues to talk about some kind of response by dragging us into the case, it must remember there will be grave consequences," he added.
Earlier, the FBI announced it had determined that North Korea was behind the hacking of Sony, saying Pyongyang's actions fell "outside the bounds of acceptable state behaviour".
Obama said North Korea appeared to have acted alone. "We will respond. We will respond proportionately and ... in a place and time and manner that we choose," he added.
Despite Obama's stern warning to North Korea, his options for responding to the computer attack appeared limited. The president declined to specify any actions under consideration.
Washington began consultations with Japan, China, South Korea and Russia seeking their assistance in reining in North Korea. Japan and South Korea said they would cooperate.
China, North Korea's only major ally, has yet to respond, but a Beijing-run newspaper said The Interview was not a movie for Hollywood and US society to be proud of.
"The vicious mocking of Kim is only a result of senseless cultural arrogance," the paper said.
It was the first time the United States had directly accused another country of a cyberattack of such magnitude on American soil and set up a possible new confrontation between long-time foes.
Obama said he wished that Sony had spoken to him first before pulling the movie, suggesting it could set a bad precedent. "I think they made a mistake," he said.
Sony Pictures chief executive Michael Lynton said it was still looking for alternative platforms to release The Interview.
He told CNN Sony had "no alternative" but to pull the film because cinema chains said they would not screen it.
"We have not caved, we have not given in, we have persevered and we have not backed down," Lynton said. "We have always had every desire to have the American public see this movie."
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What they said
Sean Penn, actor: "The decision to pull The Interview is historic. It's a case of putting short-term interests ahead of the long term. If we don't get the world on board to see that this is a game changer, if this hacking doesn't frighten the Chinese and the Russians, we're in for a very different world, a very different country, community, and a very different culture."
Joss Whedon, director, on Twitter: "Mr. President, where was your sage counsel to Sony when the public terrorist threat was made? When the theatre chains balked? 2little 2late"
Seth Rogen, actor: "I do think it's [expletive] up how everyone is doing exactly what these criminals want."
George Clooney, actor, to Sony: "Do whatever you can to get this movie out. We cannot be told. . . by Kim Jong-un."
