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| Sony hack: US seeks China's help against North Korea cyber-attacks - report | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The US government has reportedly asked China to help block North Korea’s ability to launch cyber-attacks, in the wake of the massive hack of Sony Pictures. | |
| Administration officials told the New York Times the sought-for cooperation was one of the first steps toward the “proportional response” President Barack Obama promised on Friday in his first comments on the fiasco. | Administration officials told the New York Times the sought-for cooperation was one of the first steps toward the “proportional response” President Barack Obama promised on Friday in his first comments on the fiasco. |
| “What we are looking for is a blocking action, something that would cripple their efforts to carry out attacks,” an official told the Times. | “What we are looking for is a blocking action, something that would cripple their efforts to carry out attacks,” an official told the Times. |
| China’s cooperation would be essential to any attempt to crack down on North Korea’s cyber-warfare operations, as the country’s telecommunications run through Chinese-operated networks. | China’s cooperation would be essential to any attempt to crack down on North Korea’s cyber-warfare operations, as the country’s telecommunications run through Chinese-operated networks. |
| Whether China will agree to help remains to be seen, as tensions have been high between the two countries over issues of cyber security. In May, the Justice Department brought charges against five Chinese army personnel, accusing them of orchestrating hacks into US companies including Alcoa and US Steel. China responded, calling the accusations “’extremely ridiculous” and ending bilateral talks on cybersecurity. | |
| Sony has been left reeling after a series of embarrassing leaks from its studio division. The disclosures were made by a group calling itself Guardians of Peace, which said its intention was to halt the release of The Interview, a comedy starring Seth Rogen and James Franco which depicts the assassination of the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un. | Sony has been left reeling after a series of embarrassing leaks from its studio division. The disclosures were made by a group calling itself Guardians of Peace, which said its intention was to halt the release of The Interview, a comedy starring Seth Rogen and James Franco which depicts the assassination of the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un. |
| The Interview was due for release in the US on Christmas Day. Sony said on Friday it would withdraw the film. Citing American values regarding freedom of speech, Obama said that decision was “a mistake”, adding: “I wish they had spoken to me first.” | The Interview was due for release in the US on Christmas Day. Sony said on Friday it would withdraw the film. Citing American values regarding freedom of speech, Obama said that decision was “a mistake”, adding: “I wish they had spoken to me first.” |
| Sony hit back at the president, saying it had consulted the White House before withdrawing The Interview. | Sony hit back at the president, saying it had consulted the White House before withdrawing The Interview. |
| While some in the hacker community remain skeptical, on Friday the FBI said it had proof that the hack originated from North Korea. North Korea has denied the accusations and proposed holding a joint inquiry with the US. | While some in the hacker community remain skeptical, on Friday the FBI said it had proof that the hack originated from North Korea. North Korea has denied the accusations and proposed holding a joint inquiry with the US. |
| “As the United States is spreading groundless allegations and slandering us, we propose a joint investigation with it into this incident,” a foreign ministry spokesman said on Saturday. | “As the United States is spreading groundless allegations and slandering us, we propose a joint investigation with it into this incident,” a foreign ministry spokesman said on Saturday. |
| “Without resorting to such tortures as were used by the CIA, we have means to prove that this incident has nothing to do with us.” | “Without resorting to such tortures as were used by the CIA, we have means to prove that this incident has nothing to do with us.” |
| Earlier on Saturday, the National Security Council spokesman Mark Stroh said the administration stood by its belief that North Korea was responsible for the hack. | Earlier on Saturday, the National Security Council spokesman Mark Stroh said the administration stood by its belief that North Korea was responsible for the hack. |
| “As the FBI made clear,” he said, “we are confident the North Korean government is responsible for this destructive attack. We stand by this conclusion.” | “As the FBI made clear,” he said, “we are confident the North Korean government is responsible for this destructive attack. We stand by this conclusion.” |
| “The government of North Korea has a long history of denying responsibility for destructive and provocative actions. If the North Korean government wants to help, they can admit their culpability and compensate Sony for the damages this attack caused.” | “The government of North Korea has a long history of denying responsibility for destructive and provocative actions. If the North Korean government wants to help, they can admit their culpability and compensate Sony for the damages this attack caused.” |
| The furore appeared to overshadow a second statement in which Pyongyang vowed to boost its nuclear capability and resist a UN resolution, passed on Thursday, to refer its leaders to the international criminal court for crimes against humanity. | The furore appeared to overshadow a second statement in which Pyongyang vowed to boost its nuclear capability and resist a UN resolution, passed on Thursday, to refer its leaders to the international criminal court for crimes against humanity. |