TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The US government has sought China’s help in hindering North Korea’s cyberattack, following the hacking of Sony Pictures that will launch its latest film, The Interview.
“What we are looking for is a blocking action, something that would cripple their efforts to carry out attacks,” one official said as reported by New York Times on Sunday.
Cooperation with China would be critical since all of North Korea’s telecommunications run through Chinese-operated networks.
It is unclear whether China will help the US given the tensions over China-US relations in cybersecurity since the Justice Department in May indicted five Chinese military personnel on charges of stealing sensitive information from American companies.
Sony has canceled the screening of The Interview, a political comedy film starring Seth Rogen and James Franco, that tells about journalist Dave Skylark (Franco) and his producer Aaron Rapoport’s (Rogen) plan to interview North Korea leader Kim Jong-un (Randall Park). However, when the CIA finds out about the plan, they are instructed to assassinate Kim Jong-un.
The movie that was supposed to be released on December 25 was protested by Pyongyang. In November 2014, Sony Pictures Entertainment computer system was hacked by a group who calls themselves the Guardian of Peace. The FBI said the group is related to North Korea.
The group threatened to attack all move theaters that screen the film with 9/11-like attack, causing some movie theaters in the US to pull the film.
Pyongyang has denied the accusations and is willing to conduct investigations with Washington. However, the US rejected the help. National Security Council spokesperon Mark Stroh said if Pyongyang wanted to help, they should plead guilty and compensate Sony on the damages.
THE GUARDIAN | YONHAP | CNN | NATALIA SANTI