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Sony cyber-attack: North Korea calls new US sanctions hostile Sony cyber-attack: North Korea calls US sanctions hostile
(about 2 hours later)
North Korea has described new sanctions imposed in response to a major cyber-attack against Sony Pictures as part of groundless and hostile US policy. North Korea has described new sanctions imposed in response to a major cyber-attack against Sony Pictures as part of a hostile and inflammatory US policy.
The US placed sanctions on three North Korean organisations and 10 individuals, after the FBI blamed Pyongyang for the cyber-attack. The US placed sanctions on three North Korean organisations and 10 individuals after the FBI blamed Pyongyang for the cyber-attack.
North Korea has denied involvement but has praised the attack on Sony. North Korea praised the attack on Sony but denied any involvement in it.
It came as Sony was about to release The Interview, which portrays a plan to assassinate North Korea's leader. It came as Sony was about to release The Interview, a comedy about a plot to assassinate North Korea's leader.
Sony initially cancelled plans to show the film, before deciding to release it to a limited number of cinemas and online. Sony initially cancelled plans to show the film, before deciding to release it online and at a limited number of cinemas.
'Inveterate repugnancy''Inveterate repugnancy'
The fresh US sanctions imposed on Friday are believed to be the first time the US has moved to punish any country for cyber-attacks on a US company. The US sanctions imposed on Friday are believed to be the first time the US has moved to punish any country for cyber-attacks on a US company.
Announcing them, the US said the apparent effort to stifle the movie release was part of the justification for the new restrictions, though the targets of the sanctions were not directly involved. Announcing them, White House officials told reporters the move was in response to the Sony hack, but the targets of the sanctions were not directly involved.
In response, the North's state-run KCNA news agency on Sunday quoted its foreign ministry spokesman as saying: "The policy persistently pursued by the US to stifle the DPRK [North Korea], groundlessly stirring up bad blood towards it, would only harden its will and resolution to defend the sovereignty of the country. In response, the North's state-run KCNA news agency on Sunday quoted a foreign ministry spokesman as saying: "The policy persistently pursued by the US to stifle the DPRK [North Korea], groundlessly stirring up bad blood towards it, would only harden its will and resolution to defend the sovereignty of the country.
"The persistent and unilateral action taken by the White House to slap 'sanctions' against the DPRK patently proves that it is still not away from inveterate repugnancy and hostility toward the DPRK.""The persistent and unilateral action taken by the White House to slap 'sanctions' against the DPRK patently proves that it is still not away from inveterate repugnancy and hostility toward the DPRK."
North Korea has blamed the US for lengthy internet outages in the country last week. US sanctions were already in place over North Korea's nuclear programme but analysts said the new sanctions were designed to further isolate the country's defence industry.
US sanctions are already in place over North Korea's nuclear programme. Those named in the sanctions were:
North Korea blamed the US for lengthy internet outages in the country last week but US officials have not commented on any possible American involvement.
Sony hack: The Interview sagaSony hack: The Interview saga
The Interview features James Franco and Seth Rogen as two journalists 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 granted an audience with Mr Kim. The CIA then enlists the pair to assassinate him.