The United States will expand sanctions against the DPRK because of a cyber attack on Sony

The US authorities decided to expand the sanctions against North Korea imposed in connection with the hacker attack on the company Sony Pictures. On this on Thursday, February 5, reports Reuters with reference to a source in Congress.

New restrictive measures affect the interests of cooperating with Pyongyang individuals and companies that are outside the United States. The previously imposed sanctions, as noted, are mainly focused on enterprises located in the country.

The first package of restrictive measures in connection with the hacker attack was introduced on January 2. The US Treasury has compiled a list of 3 organizations and 10 officials. Sanctions mean blocking access to the US financial system for these individuals, as well as a ban on citizens of the United States to engage in transactions with them.

Pyongyang, in turn, called the sanctions counterproductive and reminded that the United States refused to conduct a joint investigation into the circumstances of the cyber attack. Washington’s policy, as emphasized in Pyongyang, “only strengthens the DPRK’s will and determination to uphold the sovereignty and dignity of the nation.”

Sony Pictures became a victim of a hacker attack in December, 2014, when she released the film “Interview”, where, according to the plot, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un dies as a result of the assassination.

Shortly before the film's premiere, Sony Pictures received threats from unknown hackers to carry out a terrorist attack during the screening. The Interview materials, along with personal correspondence from employees, scripts and information related to film projects, were completely stolen. The FBI has officially accused the DPRK of involvement in a cyber attack on the film company, Lenta.ru writes.