North Korea denies Sony hacking and calls for joint inquiry into cyber attack
North Korea has strongly denied allegations from the US that it was behind the debilitating cyberattack on Sony Pictures, which led to the studio pulling the release of The Interview.
It has hit back at the US saying the accusations that it was involved with the attack were “groundless slander”, according to reports.
A spokesperson for the North’s foreign ministry said there would be “grave consequences” if Washington refused to agree to the joint inquiry and continued to link North Korea with it.
US President Barack Obama blamed the attack on North Korea on Friday, which led to the Hollywood studio pulling the film’s release – set for 25 December.
Cinema chains due to distribute the film, which is a satire centring on an assassination plot of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, also pulled out of running it.
Yesterday (19 Devember) the FBI released an update to its Sony cyber attack investigation in which it outlined North Korea's involvement. Read the full statement here.
Sony has also responded to US president Barack Obama’s comments that it “made a mistake” in pulling the Christmas release of The Interview, in the wake of a debilitating cyber attack allegedly sourced from North Korea.
The film, which is a satire centring on an assassination plot against North Korean president Kim Jong-un, was due to debut on Christmas day, but was dropped by cinema chains after the FBI linked North Korea to the source of the Sony hack attack.
President Obama told US reporters yesterday (19 December) at an end-of-year press conference that he “wished” Sony had consulted him before making a decision, and that now the FBI had linked North Korea with the hacking attack, the US “would respond”.
However, Sony Pictures boss Michal Lynton has reportedly dismissed the notion that the company bowed to the pressure and is actively looking for alternative methods of distribution, given the initial cinema chains which were to run the film backed out.
Lynton told The Telegraph the studio had not “caved in”, and added that he did reach out to the White House, adding “the White House was certainly aware of the situation”.