Obama addresses Sony hack after FBI names DPRK as culprit

Global Business

U.S. President Barack Obama addressed the recent hacking scandal at Sony Pictures at the president’s end-of-the-year news conference today, criticizing the movie studio for pulling the release of “The Interview,” a controversial movie that mocks Kim Jong Un, leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or DPRK. CCTV America’s Jim Spellman reported this story from Washington D.C.

“Sony is a corporation. It suffered considerable damage. There were threats against its employees. I am sympathetic to the concerns they faced, having said all that, yes, I think they made a mistake,” Obama said.

The CEO of Sony Pictures Michael Lynton responded to the Obama’s remarks by saying: “The president, the press, and the public are mistaken as to what actually happened.”

Lynton also said it was pressure from theaters that forced Sony to pull the movie after hackers threatened terrorist attacks if theaters showed the film.

Earlier Friday, the FBI announced it believes the DPRK is behind the attack. In a statement , it said: “The FBI now has enough information to conclude that the North Korean government is responsible for these actions.”

The agency said it came to the conclusion based on technical analysis of the malware used in the attack.

President Obama stressed that no other countries are believed to be involved, and that the U.S. is prepared to retaliate.

“We will respond proportionally, and we will respond in a place and time and manner that we choose. It’s not something I will announce here today at a press conference.” Obama said.


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