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| U.S. imposes sanctions on N. Korea following attack on Sony | U.S. imposes sanctions on N. Korea following attack on Sony |
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| The Obama administration imposed new sanctions on North Korea on Friday, the first known U.S. response since authorities concluded the repressive government was behind the cyberattack on Sony Pictures Entertainment. | The Obama administration imposed new sanctions on North Korea on Friday, the first known U.S. response since authorities concluded the repressive government was behind the cyberattack on Sony Pictures Entertainment. |
| President Obama, while vacationing in Hawaii, signed an executive order authorizing the sanctions. U.S. officials said the measures were a response to North Korea’s “ongoing provocative, destabilizing, and repressive actions and policies,” including the attack on Sony. | President Obama, while vacationing in Hawaii, signed an executive order authorizing the sanctions. U.S. officials said the measures were a response to North Korea’s “ongoing provocative, destabilizing, and repressive actions and policies,” including the attack on Sony. |
| Under the new order, the Treasury Department imposed financial measures on 10 North Korean officials and three government agencies. The targets include the country’s main intelligence agency, believed to have orchestrated major cyber operations, as well as agencies responsible for weapons deals and military research and development. | Under the new order, the Treasury Department imposed financial measures on 10 North Korean officials and three government agencies. The targets include the country’s main intelligence agency, believed to have orchestrated major cyber operations, as well as agencies responsible for weapons deals and military research and development. |
| The newly sanctioned officials include those operating out of Namibia, Iran, Syria and China. | The newly sanctioned officials include those operating out of Namibia, Iran, Syria and China. |
| At least some of the entities targeted Friday have been sanctioned previously. North Korea is already one of the most heavily sanctioned countries in the world. | At least some of the entities targeted Friday have been sanctioned previously. North Korea is already one of the most heavily sanctioned countries in the world. |
| Obama pledged two weeks ago to respond “proportionally” to the intrusion into Sony’s network — an attack that not only exposed embarrassing corporate e-mails but wiped out computer data. Some lawmakers have called on the administration to redesignate North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism — a measure Obama has said he would consider. | Obama pledged two weeks ago to respond “proportionally” to the intrusion into Sony’s network — an attack that not only exposed embarrassing corporate e-mails but wiped out computer data. Some lawmakers have called on the administration to redesignate North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism — a measure Obama has said he would consider. |
| In a statement Friday, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said the new sanctions aim to hold North Korea responsible for “destructive and destabilizing conduct.” | |
| “Even as the FBI continues its investigation into the cyber-attack against Sony Pictures Entertainment, these steps underscore that we will employ a broad set of tools to defend U.S. businesses and citizens, and to respond to attempts to undermine our values or threaten the national security of the United States,” he said. | “Even as the FBI continues its investigation into the cyber-attack against Sony Pictures Entertainment, these steps underscore that we will employ a broad set of tools to defend U.S. businesses and citizens, and to respond to attempts to undermine our values or threaten the national security of the United States,” he said. |
| North Korea has denied it carried out the attack against Sony, which became public on Nov. 24, and some cybersecurity experts have questioned the U.S. assertion that the Stalinist government was involved. | North Korea has denied it carried out the attack against Sony, which became public on Nov. 24, and some cybersecurity experts have questioned the U.S. assertion that the Stalinist government was involved. |
| Last month, security researchers at California-based Norse Corp. said their own probe suggested the attack could have been linked to a disgruntled former Sony employee. The FBI has rebutted such assertions, saying in a recent statement that there is “no credible information to indicate that any other individual is responsible for this cyber incident.” |