WASHINGTON, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday signed an executive order, imposing new sanctions against the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea DPRK) in response to what he called Pyongyang's "numerous provocations," particularly the latest cyberattack on Sony Pictures Entertainment.
The sanctions targeted three entities -- Reconnaissance General Bureau, Korea Mining Development Trading Corporation and Korea Tangun Trading Corporation, as well as 10 individuals who work for those entities or the DPRK government, denying them access to the U.S. financial system and banning them doing transactions with U.S. citizens according to the U.S. Treasury Department.
The actions "will further isolate key North Korean entities and disrupt the activities of close to a dozen critical North Korean operatives," U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said in a statement.
"As the President has said, our response to North Korea's attack against Sony Pictures Entertainment will be proportional, and will take place at a time and in a manner of our choosing. Today's actions are the first aspect of our response," the White House noted.
The U.S. has accused Pyongyang of hacking Sony Pictures Entertainment over a comedy film "The Interview" that depicts an assassination attempt on DPRK leader Kim Jong Un. But the DPRK has denied involvement, saying such claims were "a wild rumor."
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DPRK rebuffs U.S. accusation of cyber attack on Sony movie
PYONGYANG, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Saturday rebuffed the U.S. accusation that Pyongyang was involved in a cyber attack on a Sony movie.
The United States groundlessly linked the unheard-of hacking at the Sony Pictures Entertainment to the DPRK, a spokesman for the Policy Department of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK said in a statement. Full story
Sony releases "The Interview" online
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- Sony Picture Entertainment released the controversial film "The Interview" online Wednesday, in advance of a limited theatrical screening on Christmas Day.
The film, a comedy about a plot to assassinate the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) which prompted a cyberattack, was available at Google Play, YouTube Movies, Microsoft's Xbox Video and a Sony site called seetheinterview.com since 10 a.m. Pacific time (1700 GMT). Full story
China urges restraint over alleged Sony hacking
BEIJING, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- China called for all parties involved to keep restraint over the alleged cyber attack on the U.S.-based Sony Pictures Entertainment, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said Wednesday.
"We hope all parties can keep restraint to properly deal with the issue," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regular news briefing, voicing China's opposition to all forms of cyber attack and terrorism. Full Story
U.S. calls for DPRK compensation for alleged Sony hacking
WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Monday insisted on blaming the Democratic People's Republic of Korea ( DPRK) for a cyber attack on the U.S.-based Sony Pictures Entertainment, demanding Pyongyang compensate for the damages caused.
"Well, as the FBI and the president and everyone who's now made clear we are confident the North Korean government is responsible for this destruction attack. We stand by this conclusion," said Marie Harf, deputy spokesperson of the U.S. State Department, at a news briefing. Full Story
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