North Korea Denies Role in Sony Hack, Demands Joint Probe With U.S.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Photographer: Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images

North Korea reiterated it had nothing to do with the hacking of Sony Corp.’s computer systems and called for a joint investigation into the incident with the U.S., Sky News reported.

North Korea can prove its innocence and warned of “grave consequences” if the U.S. fails to take up its offer, Sky said, citing the state-run Korea Central News Agency. “As the U.S. is spreading groundless allegations and slandering us, we propose a joint investigation,” KCNA cited the country’s foreign ministry as saying.

Sony Pictures Chief Executive Officer Michael Lynton decided to pull The Interview, a comedy about a fictional plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, from cinemas this week after theater owners received threats of violence from hackers calling themselves the Guardians of Peace. Hackers had previously published private e-mails from the company.

Sony “suffered significant damage,” U.S. President Barack Obama said yesterday, vowing to respond to North Korea’s cyber-assault on the company “in a place and time and manner that we choose.”

Malicious software in the Sony attack bore links to malware previously used by North Koreans, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The hacking tools employed also were similar to those used in a March 2013 cyber-attack on South Korean banks and media organizations.

North Korea’s diplomat at the United Nations, Kim Song, yesterday in New York denied the nation’s involvement in the incident. KCNA on Dec. 7 cited an unnamed defense spokesman as saying North Korean supporters may have attacked Sony’s computers in “righteous” anger over the comedy about a plot to kill Supreme Leader Kim.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ben Moshinsky in London at bmoshinsky@bloomberg.net

Source - http://www.businessweek.com/ne...u-dot-s-dot-sky-says