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| Sony hack: White House views attack as security issue | |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| A cyber attack on Sony Pictures that forced the cancellation of a major film release is being treated as a national security matter, the White House says. | |
| Spokesman Josh Earnest said the US believed the hacking was the work of a "sophisticated actor" - but refused to confirm if North Korea was responsible. | |
| Sony withdrew The Interview, a new comedy film about North Korea's leader, after threats from hackers. | |
| Hackers have already released sensitive information stored on Sony computers. | |
| They later issued a warning to cinemas planning to screen The Interview. | |
| Referring to the 9/11 terror attacks, they said "the world will be full of fear" if the film was screened. | |
| The subsequent cancellation of the film's release has been criticised in Hollywood as an attack on freedom of expression. | |
| At a White House briefing on Thursday, Mr Earnest said US officials had held daily discussions about the Sony cyber attack and were considering an "appropriate response". | |
| However, he refused to comment on who was responsible, saying he did not wish to pre-empt an investigation by the Department of Justice and the FBI. |