US government sanctions North Korea for Sony hack as 'The Interview' reigns atop iTunes charts
U.S. President Barack Obama issued an executive order on Friday, placing new sanctions against North Korea related to its government's believed involvement in an act of cyberterrorism that targeted Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Calling North Korea's cyberattacks "provocative, destabilizing, and repressive," the White House authorized the Secretary of the Treasury to impose sanctions on individuals and entities affiliated with the country's government. Regarding the attack on Sony, the Obama administration called the North Korean government "destructive and coercive."
"We take seriously North Korea's attack that aimed to create destructive financial effects on a U.S. company and to threaten artists and other individuals with the goal of restricting their right to free expression," the White House said in a statement.
The steps taken on Friday were said to be just the "first measure" of the U.S. government's response. Obama has pledged to make a response that is proportional to the crippling attack on Sony, which came about because of the North Korean government's apparent unhappiness with the content of its new film "The Interview."
In an unprecedented move, Sony opted to release the film both in theaters and through digital services on Christmas Day. It took a few extra days for the film to end up on iTunes, but as of Friday the comedy is still the top selling movie on Apple's iTunes Store.
Available to rent for $5.99 and purchase for $14.99, "The Interview" depicts actors Seth Rogen and James Franco as journalists instructed to assassinate Kim Jong-Un, the leader of North Korea. Offended by the premise of the movie, hackers said to be from North Korea compromised Sony Pictures Entertainment and threatened to attack theaters that played the film.
Sony eventually opted for a simultaneous digital release -- a rare move in Hollywood --?after major theater chains announced they would not be showing the movie on its opening day of Christmas. Smaller and independent theaters did end up debuting the movie on Dec. 25, and no incidents occurred.
Calling North Korea's cyberattacks "provocative, destabilizing, and repressive," the White House authorized the Secretary of the Treasury to impose sanctions on individuals and entities affiliated with the country's government. Regarding the attack on Sony, the Obama administration called the North Korean government "destructive and coercive."
"We take seriously North Korea's attack that aimed to create destructive financial effects on a U.S. company and to threaten artists and other individuals with the goal of restricting their right to free expression," the White House said in a statement.
The steps taken on Friday were said to be just the "first measure" of the U.S. government's response. Obama has pledged to make a response that is proportional to the crippling attack on Sony, which came about because of the North Korean government's apparent unhappiness with the content of its new film "The Interview."
In an unprecedented move, Sony opted to release the film both in theaters and through digital services on Christmas Day. It took a few extra days for the film to end up on iTunes, but as of Friday the comedy is still the top selling movie on Apple's iTunes Store.
Available to rent for $5.99 and purchase for $14.99, "The Interview" depicts actors Seth Rogen and James Franco as journalists instructed to assassinate Kim Jong-Un, the leader of North Korea. Offended by the premise of the movie, hackers said to be from North Korea compromised Sony Pictures Entertainment and threatened to attack theaters that played the film.
Sony eventually opted for a simultaneous digital release -- a rare move in Hollywood --?after major theater chains announced they would not be showing the movie on its opening day of Christmas. Smaller and independent theaters did end up debuting the movie on Dec. 25, and no incidents occurred.
Comments
Smaller and independent theaters did end up debuting the movie on Dec. 25, and no incidents occurred.
Saw the 12 noon Xmas day showing at a local art house.
Exercised my right to spend disposable income on decadent bourgeois entertainment.
I read all about that same theory but it was just as much speculation as the idea they did it.
This is sad since it's highly unlikely that NK even did the hack. The FBI used very old code that's been out in the public for some time now to determine that NK was behind it, and numerous experts have determined that NK did not hack Sony. My gut tells me the FBI blew this one and is now trying to keep from looking like idiots. They discounted a well-known security company's conclusions before they even saw the data behind it. I like Obama, but I think he missed it on this one and caved to public pressure. Unfortunate. There are lots of good reasons to hammer NK. This probably isn't one of them, and if it turns out they weren't behind the Sony hack it makes us look like morons.
"Highly unlikely".... "FBI used old code that's been out..."
i.e. you don't know, and you're just guessing.
I read all about that same theory but it was just as much speculation as the idea they did it.
I read the article that goes into detail for the reasons NK was not likely involved and I disagree with you. Let's just stipulate that you're right and it is just as much speculation as the idea they did it. Should the US sanction another country based on speculation?
Can we please just cut off the Norks completely? Zero exceptions? Everything blocked.
Force his hand, end the war, and remove Korea as an economic challenge to the US. AND NO US MONEY SENT TO REBUILD THE COUNTRY.
We’re perpetuating crimes against humanity on the order of the Holodomor here. There’s no justification for allowing North Korea to continue to exist.
No.
Sanction China. China keeps North Korea alive as a drain on our economy.
Let China have Korea. Withdraw our troops from Korea and save billions of taxpayer dollars each year.
Maybe then this useless Congress will spend some money on our crumbling infrastructure.
Great argument¡
Yep..
Want to be reported for spam or are you going to bother explaining yourself?
Well Stoutie, I am wondering how you have unreleased info on what the Feds evidence is. The "well known" security company also had no evidence and nothing factual to refute the Feds conclusion. You don't really know anything and are just regurgitating speculation of others. What's highly unlikely is anyone besides the Feds, North Koreans and maybe the Chinese really know what took place.
Are you defending North Korea as a nation? A repressive, dictatorial, murdering regime (would you like to dispute that assertion?) deserves whatever they get and if it comes about from an action attributed to them without publicly disclosed supporting evidence, I frankly don't care. And I am willing to bet most Americans and residents of free countries that can see past their anti-American bias would agree.
Regarding what your "gut tells you" - Most likely, that's a gas problem. Take some Beano and if that doesn't work, try probiotics. I bet one of those will get your gut to stop talking to you and anybody else within the stink zone.
Quote:This is sad since it's highly unlikely that NK even did the hack. The FBI used very old code that's been out in the public for some time now to determine that NK was behind it, and numerous experts have determined that NK did not hack Sony. My gut tells me the FBI blew this one and is now trying to keep from looking like idiots. They discounted a well-known security company's conclusions before they even saw the data behind it. I like Obama, but I think he missed it on this one and caved to public pressure. Unfortunate. There are lots of good reasons to hammer NK. This probably isn't one of them, and if it turns out they weren't behind the Sony hack it makes us look like morons.
Spam? No.
I didn't have an opinion, you read that into my comment yourself. I simply stated I've read the same article you did. I do not have access to sufficient information to know who is right either way.
No, North Korea Didn’t Hack Sony
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/12/24/no-north-korea-didn-t-hack-sony.html?utm_content=buffercecb3&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
As I said I read this and I still don't know enough to know one way or the other. I learned along time ago; 'being on the www doesn't make it so ... '
I can point you to articles that defy the four laws of thermodynamics or Samsung is
out sellingmore profitable than Apple and people believe every word ... just saying ...But I agree with TS, any excuse to stick it to the moron running NK is OK with me guilty or not .. 8-)