UNITED STATES: The recent cyber-attacks on Sony Pictures by Korean activist have angered the US, and as a comeback to it, US has endorsed more permits and approvals on Pyongyang and has warned that this is the least reaction for it.
President Barack Obama signed an executive order that authorizes the secretary of the treasury to impose sanctions on individuals and entities associated with the government of North Korea, the White House said in a statement.
Three North Korean entities and 10 officials were named in the sanctions, including the Reconnaissance General Bureau, Pyongyang’s primary intelligence organization, accused of arms trading and other activities banned under U.N. resolutions, according to the Treasury Department.
“We take seriously North Korea’s attack that aimed to create destructive financial effects on a U.S. company and to threaten artists and other individuals with the goal of restricting their right to free expression,” the White House said.
“As the president has said, our response to North Korea’s attack against Sony Pictures Entertainment will be proportional, and will take place at a time and in a manner of our choosing. Today’s actions are the first aspect of our response,” it said.
The FBI has determined that North Korea was behind the hack on Sony, confirming widespread suspicions pointing to the North, which has long expressed anger at a Sony movie, “The Interview,” which involves a plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
North Korea has denied any responsibility, though it lauded the Sony hack as a “righteous deed.”
“The order is not targeted at the people of North Korea, but rather is aimed at the government of North Korea and its activities that threaten the United States and others,” Obama said in a letter to House of Representatives and Senate leaders.
