Following the cyber attack on Sony Pictures, Barack Obama, the President of the United States, stated that the issue of re-listing North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism is being reviewed. In an interview with CNN broadcast on Sunday, December 21, Obama emphasized that such a decision would be made after careful consideration. However, the U.S. President described the cyber attack on Sony Pictures as 'internet vandalism' and stated that such an attack does not constitute an act of war. Meanwhile, North Korea has denied involvement in the cyber attack on Sony Pictures. The comedy film 'The Interview', produced by Sony Pictures, revolves around a plot to assassinate Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, by two journalists in collaboration with the CIA, and was scheduled to be released on Christmas Day. However, following threatening messages, Sony Pictures announced that the release of 'The Interview' has been postponed. Obama reiterated that all documents regarding the re-listing of North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism are under review. The U.S. President stated: 'I will wait for the results of this investigation to be clear.' North Korea had been on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism for over two decades and was removed from the list in 2008 following a nuclear agreement. On Saturday, the U.S. requested China to assist in the investigation regarding the cyber attack on Sony Pictures. Mark Stroh, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, stated that Washington is confident that North Korea was responsible for the cyber attack. He added that if North Korea wishes to cooperate, it should take responsibility for the attack and compensate Sony Pictures for the damages incurred. Meanwhile, the White House welcomed Sony Pictures' decision to find a way to release 'The Interview'. Eric Schultz, Deputy White House Press Secretary, stated on Friday that 'the people should decide whether they want to go see the movie or not.' Schultz also mentioned that the U.S. government never discussed the film's release with Sony until the company decided not to show it. In this context, the U.S. welcomes Sony's efforts for a potential release of 'The Interview'. North Korea: We are ready to cooperate with the U.S. regarding the cyber attack on Sony. Obama: We will respond appropriately to North Korea's hacking attack. The U.S. officially identified North Korea as responsible for the hack of Sony Pictures. The comedy about the North Korean leader will not be released.
Obama: The Return of North Korea to the List of State Sponsors of Terrorism is Under Consideration
President Obama announced that the U.S. is considering re-listing North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism following a cyber attack on Sony Pictures. The attack was linked to the controversial film 'The Interview', which depicts an assassination plot against North Korea's leader. This situation highlights ongoing tensions between the U.S. and North Korea and raises questions about international cyber security.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
President Obama announced that the U.S. is considering re-listing North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism due to a cyber attack on Sony Pictures linked to the film 'The Interview'. North Korea has denied involvement, but the U.S. is confident in its assessment.
- The cyber attack on Sony Pictures was described by Obama as 'internet vandalism'.
- North Korea was removed from the U.S. terrorism list in 2008 after a nuclear agreement.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
North Korea has a history of provocative actions, including cyber attacks, which have strained its relations with the U.S. and other nations. The film 'The Interview' exacerbated these tensions due to its portrayal of North Korea's leader.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%