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North Korea berates Obama over The Interview release | North Korea berates Obama over The Interview release |
(about 5 hours later) | |
North Korea has condemned US President Barack Obama over the release of the film The Interview, about a fictional plot to kill its leader Kim Jong-un. | North Korea has condemned US President Barack Obama over the release of the film The Interview, about a fictional plot to kill its leader Kim Jong-un. |
The National Defence Commission (NDC) also accused the US of shutting down North Korea's internet - and described Mr Obama as "reckless" and "a monkey". | |
Another internet shut-down was observed hours later, Chinese state media said. | |
Sony Pictures originally pulled the film after a cyber-attack and threats - a move criticised by Mr Obama. | |
He joined critics who had warned that freedom of expression was under threat if the movie was shelved. | |
Sony later reconsidered and released The Interview on Christmas Day. | |
The controversial film was shown in some US cinemas and is available online, with several hundred independent cinemas coming forward and offering to screen it. | |
However, larger theatres decided not to show the film. | |
'Righteous deed' | 'Righteous deed' |
In a statement issued on Saturday, North Korea's NDC spokesman denounced the US for screening the "dishonest and reactionary movie hurting the dignity of the supreme leadership of the DPRK [North Korea] and agitating terrorism". | |
President Obama, the statement said, "is the chief culprit who forced the Sony Pictures Entertainment to indiscriminately distribute the movie", blackmailing cinemas in the US. | President Obama, the statement said, "is the chief culprit who forced the Sony Pictures Entertainment to indiscriminately distribute the movie", blackmailing cinemas in the US. |
It added: "Obama always goes reckless in words and deeds like a monkey in a tropical forest." | It added: "Obama always goes reckless in words and deeds like a monkey in a tropical forest." |
The NDC also accused also Washington of "groundlessly linking the unheard of hacking at the Sony Pictures Entertainment to the DPRK". | The NDC also accused also Washington of "groundlessly linking the unheard of hacking at the Sony Pictures Entertainment to the DPRK". |
Analysis: Stephen Evans, BBC News, Seoul | Analysis: Stephen Evans, BBC News, Seoul |
The Interview is a classic Hollywood romp involving two lads who go to a strange place and get seduced (in several senses). | The Interview is a classic Hollywood romp involving two lads who go to a strange place and get seduced (in several senses). |
And it is very funny. That's partly because it is also a very good political satire. | And it is very funny. That's partly because it is also a very good political satire. |
It is powerful because it depicts Kim Jong-un as a vain, buffoonish despot, alternating between threats and weeping that he's been misunderstood. The people around him have all the signs of fear you might expect with a despot - they second-guess his likes and dislikes. | It is powerful because it depicts Kim Jong-un as a vain, buffoonish despot, alternating between threats and weeping that he's been misunderstood. The people around him have all the signs of fear you might expect with a despot - they second-guess his likes and dislikes. |
Maybe he - and they - were right to fear the film. North Korean defectors sometimes smuggle USB sticks with films and soaps into the closed-off country, and there is a view in the south that these are a particularly powerful means of undermining the regime in Pyongyang. If that's so, The Interview might be a good candidate for inclusion. | Maybe he - and they - were right to fear the film. North Korean defectors sometimes smuggle USB sticks with films and soaps into the closed-off country, and there is a view in the south that these are a particularly powerful means of undermining the regime in Pyongyang. If that's so, The Interview might be a good candidate for inclusion. |
That fear may explain the North Korean leadership's intemperate, deeply racist language. It's not the first time, it has called President Obama a monkey. | That fear may explain the North Korean leadership's intemperate, deeply racist language. It's not the first time, it has called President Obama a monkey. |
Crude insult or satire. Which is more effective? | Crude insult or satire. Which is more effective? |
FBI accusation | FBI accusation |
Sony Pictures had initially pulled the film after suffering an unprecedented hacking attack at the hands of a group calling itself the Guardians of Peace. | Sony Pictures had initially pulled the film after suffering an unprecedented hacking attack at the hands of a group calling itself the Guardians of Peace. |
The hackers also threatened to carry out a terrorist attack on cinemas showing the film on its scheduled release date of Christmas Day. | The hackers also threatened to carry out a terrorist attack on cinemas showing the film on its scheduled release date of Christmas Day. |
Last week, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said its analysis pointed the finger at North Korea. | Last week, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said its analysis pointed the finger at North Korea. |
However, many cyber-security experts have come forward to dispute this assertion. | However, many cyber-security experts have come forward to dispute this assertion. |
At the time, North Korea denied being behind the attack but described it as a "righteous deed". | At the time, North Korea denied being behind the attack but described it as a "righteous deed". |
The country subsequently suffered a severe internet outage. | The country subsequently suffered a severe internet outage. |
On Saturday, China's state news agency Xinhua said: "At Pyongyang time 19:30 (10:30 GMT) North Korea's internet and mobile 3G network came to a standstill, and had not returned to normal as of 21:30." | |
Its reporters in North Korea had found the internet "very unstable" throughout the day. | |
Cyber security firm Dyn Research also said that North Korea suffered a "country-wide internet blackout" on Saturday. | |
The Interview saga | The Interview saga |
The Interview features James Franco and Seth Rogen as two journalists who are granted an audience with Mr Kim. The CIA then enlists the pair to assassinate him. | The Interview features James Franco and Seth Rogen as two journalists who are granted an audience with Mr Kim. The CIA then enlists the pair to assassinate him. |