US impose sanction against North Korea over SONY hacks

US President Barack Obama signed an executive order to impose sanctions on three North Korean organisations and 10 individuals. This came after the US determined that North Korea was behind the recent Sony hacks.


                   Barack Obama has said the hacks are North Korea 
                           trying to restrict free expression

The White House said that the new rules would prevent North Korean leaders from accessing property and entering the US. In an official statement, the White House said that the move was a response to North Korea's "provocative, destabilising and repressive actions".
Interestingly, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has maintained that North Korea was behind the broad computer breach at Sony, despite evidence from some technology experts that points instead to former employees of the studio.

US sanctions are already in place over North Korea's nuclear programme. But today's actions are the first to punish Pyongyang for the cyber-attacks. 

The entertainment giant was embarrassed after a group called the 'Guardians of Peace' leaked data including personal details and emails of employees.

The group later threatened cinema chains who showed the satirical North Korean comedy - The Interview - set for release on the 25th December. Oblique references to the 9/11 attack meant that Sony cancelled the theatrical release of the film. 

Theatrical poster for The Interview

However after Obama said publically that scrapping the film was a mistake, Sony have released it in limited cinemas across the US. It has made 15 million US Dollars on its first four days, which is impressive considering it was only released in a tenth of the expected cinemas.

These additional sanctions imposed on North Korea suggest that the US will not back down about North Korean involvement.

"We take seriously North Korea's attack that aimed to create destructive financial effects on a US company and to threaten artists and other individuals with the goal of restricting their right to free expression," the White House said in a statement.


Some of the organisations and individuals under sanctions are:

• The Reconnaissance General Bureau - North Korea's primary intelligence organisation
• North Korea's primary arms dealer, the Korea Mining Development Training Corporation (Komid)
• Korea Tangun Trading Corporation - supporting North Korea's defence research
• Jang Song Chol - named by the US Treasury as a Komid representative in Russia and a government official
• Kim Yong Chol - an official of the North Korean Government, according to the US, and a Komid representative in Iran.
• Ryu Jin and Kang Ryong - Komid officials and members of the North korean Government who are operating in Syria, according to the US.

As of yet, it is uncertain how those entitled relate to the Sony hacks. 

Is it possible that the US is using the hacks as an excuse to go against North Korea, as they have ignored evidence provided by technological experts?

What does it mean for the rest of the world if the, arguably, most powerful nation goes up against the most secretive nation?