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US Seeks China's Help Against North Korean Cyberattacks

An anonymous reader writes The United States has declined an offer by North Korea for a joint investigation into the hacking of Sony Pictures and asked China to help block cyber attacks. "We have discussed this issue with the Chinese to share information, express our concerns about this attack, and to ask for their cooperation," a senior administration official said. "In our cybersecurity discussions, both China and the United States have expressed the view that conducting destructive attacks in cyberspace is outside the norms of appropriate cyber behavior." China has so far seemed less than sympathetic: "Any civilized world will oppose hacker attacks or terror threats. But a movie like The Interview, which makes fun of the leader of an enemy of the U.S., is nothing to be proud of for Hollywood and U.S. society," said an editorial in The Global Times, a tabloid sister paper to China's official The People's Daily. "No matter how the U.S. society looks at North Korea and Kim Jong Un, Kim is still the leader of the country. The vicious mocking of Kim is only a result of senseless cultural arrogance."

153 comments

  1. "Cultural arrogance" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The irony is more than a little thick.

    1. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by ArcadeMan · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It's not just China, all the other countries think the U.S.A. is arrogant.

    2. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2

      Yes, maybe we should have jailed Charlie Chaplain for mocking Hitler
      Would that appeasement have delayed ww2?

    3. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What's ironic? Most of the world views your country's government and its people as arrogant.

    4. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by AmiMoJo · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The Chinese do have a point here. First the US attacks other countries with cyber weapons like Struxnet and hacking on a quite astounding scale (thanks for informing us, Snowden). Then it gets in a huff when others attack its movie industry, and tries to take the moral high ground.

      They also have a point about insulting the leaders of other countries. Obviously in the west we have no problem with it, we do it all the time and to our own people. Considering the delicate nature of the relationship between North Korea and the US making this kind of film doesn't seem like a very smart move. Yes, freedom of speech and all that, but free speech is not free from consequences. Expecting the North Koreans not to react, expecting it not to affect the US-DPRK relationship is naive at best.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    5. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by NeoGeo64 · · Score: 0

      Those were different circumstances. Hiltler was in the public eye as enemy number one. North Korea is kind of like a joke.

    6. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by MightyMartian · · Score: 3, Insightful

      So we should burn any movie script that dares insult some violent tyrant, lest they get upset? Should we also stop publishing reports on said tyrants? Just how much would you like the West to appease the likes of Kim Jong-Un?

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    7. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by AchilleTalon · · Score: 1

      First of all, the movie isn't a product of the USA government. You know about free speech? If free speech is considered by the rest of the world as cultural arrogance, so be it.

      Second, hijacking a website and the cyberspace is a crime. It is not about the movie industry or whatever, it is about a crime perpetrated on american soil by another country. USA is perfectly legit to react and take action against anyone behind this crime. No matter how weak the security at Sony is.

      Third, any real proofs US government is behind Stuxnet? I would like to see them, really.

      Fourth, they also insult their own leaders. There is numerous movies where the President of USA is depicted as an idiot, killed or whatever.

      --
      Achille Talon
      Hop!
    8. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      It's not a clear cut "freedom of speech" issue as some are making it out to be. The situation is a difficult one, and people's lives are on the line. Upsetting the DPRK in this way is not likely to improve things. So, while legally the right to make and release such a film exists, morally it's more questionable.

      I'm not drawing a conclusion, I'm just trying to explain how it isn't a simple free speech or appeasement issue. Try to imagine being someone living near the border in South Korea, as many millions of people do. You might wish people took account of how delicate the situation is before acting.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    9. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by BradMajors · · Score: 0

      > First of all, the movie isn't a product of the USA government.

      Yes it is. The movie was prescreened to the White House and the White House was asked for input on the movie. The White House explicitly asked for the execution of the NK leader to be retained in the film.

    10. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by AchilleTalon · · Score: 2

      It still doesn't make it a product of the government. BTW, I would like to have some serious source behind this claim of yours.

      --
      Achille Talon
      Hop!
    11. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      It's not a clear cut "freedom of speech" issue as some are making it out to be. ...

      BULLSHIT.

      Someone's speech - in this case a movie - upset someone to the point of criminal activities - extortion and threats of violence.

      It's not difficult at all - someone says something you don't like, GET THE FUCK OVER IT. But jackasses like you only hold white Christians to that standard.

      If that's not a free speech issue, NOTHING is.

      Oh yeah, this is quite apropos. Read it and LEARN something.

    12. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Someone calls for the murder of everyone in your race/religion, get the fuck over it.

      People listen and actually murder several million in your race/religion, get the fuck over it.

      Speech is an act. It's a more powerful act in terms of efficiency than any sticks or stones. It has consequences - sometimes these consequences should involve legal sanctions, and often not, but there are always ethical consequences.

    13. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, but the joke is extremely unfunny to those suffering in it.

    14. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      mod up

    15. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Someone calls for the murder of everyone in your race/religion, get the fuck over it.

      People listen and actually murder several million in your race/religion, get the fuck over it.

      Speech is an act. It's a more powerful act in terms of efficiency than any sticks or stones. It has consequences - sometimes these consequences should involve legal sanctions, and often not, but there are always ethical consequences.

      So Michael Brown's stepfather is responsible for some Ferguson riots because he said Burn this bitch down!!!" and he should be arrested, tried, presumably found guilty (hard to argue he didn't say that), and jailed?

      OK, got it.

    16. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by Mantrid42 · · Score: 1

      I was unaware that the moral thing to do was accept bullying. I bet "The Great Dictator" upset Hitler, but in the US, it was the second most popular movie of 1941. I guess that's not comparably, since the terrorists won, and we all live in constant fear.

    17. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by cascadingstylesheet · · Score: 1

      So we should burn any movie script that dares insult some violent tyrant, lest they get upset?

      That's the logical endpoint of cultural relativism, yes.

    18. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by hey! · · Score: 1

      Where is the "only public enemy number one" rule written down?

      Mockery is what we do to political leaders, our own included. Some of us even mock political leaders we support. And that's the test of whether you truly believe in someone or in a system. Everybody mocks people they disagree with, it takes real confidence to mock people you agree with. At least that's the way Americans view things. A leader who can't take a ribbing is weak, and the more elaborate the display of machismo or military trappings the weaker we think he is.

      --
      Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
    19. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by ArmoredDragon · · Score: 1

      The irony is pretty thick there as well.

      As an example, all too often when I see comparisons of the US and abroad, Europeans often refer to their way of doing things as the way "the rest of the world" works, and likewise Europeans also think of themselves as being "the world."

      Just as an example from recent memory, one guy was detracting an article about EMV adoption in the US in the comments, saying it was just a ploy by the banking companies to force you to pay for fraudulent charges, and I responded to him saying that in the US there are already protections against that kind of thing so it doesn't matter anyways, to which he replies to me that I'm a stupid ignorant American and that "the rest of the world" isn't like us, and had to remind me that he was from France and not the USA and how I shouldn't just assume that he's American, in spite of the fact that the fucking article was about the USA, so I'm not sure what basis he was to expect me to expect him to not be from the USA, other than simple arrogance on his part.

      Another thing I can think of is that South American's take GREAT offense when you refer to people in the USA as American. It doesn't have to be somebody within the USA doing it, rather if somebody from say Europe, Asia, or wherever says it (which they often do) whereas they themselves don't seem to have any qualms about being identified as such. Forget that none of their countries have the word "America" in it, they just get pissed when you issue that name to somebody they term "estadiounidense".

      Also as a minor example, for whatever reason when you talk to Germans about the holocaust, they inevitably redirect the conversation by saying that the US is the most racist country in the world, even though that's unlikely.

    20. Re: "Cultural arrogance" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hitler was not mentioned by name in The Great Dictator. Satire is a good approach in cases like this, it's too bad Goldberg and Rogen didn't use it.

    21. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The Chinese do have a point here. First the US attacks other countries with cyber weapons like Struxnet and hacking on a quite astounding scale (thanks for informing us, Snowden).

      Exactly, how come it's "Okay" when the Feds do it to the world every day, but when someone does it to a rich corporation that pays plenty of campaign bribes it's the end of civilization as we know it and "something must be done"? I think the US government needs to get over itself and start behaving like a responsible member of the world society instead of a spoiled 6 year old bully that just got a black eye. Holding their breath, stamping their feet, and crying to China is not going to do anything except give the rest of the world something to laugh about.

    22. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's pretty equal-opportunity ridicule of leaders. It doesn't really matter whether it's a dictatorial tyrant in a totalitarian state ("The Interview" or "The Dictator"), the head-of-state of an ally (Queen Elizabeth in "The Naked Gun"), or practically every president and other politician in it's own country (the list of movies is endless). The satire knows no bounds when it comes to leaders.

      So it's a bit silly for commentators in China to claim it's somehow an issue unless they think leaders of countries don't deserve criticism and ridicule. It's regarded as a public right to do that in free countries, and that's the real problem: people in China have to tread very lightly when ridiculing their own leaders unless it's officially approved. They can claim some high ground, but only because it's a symptom of not being able to do it themselves.

      It's not "arrogance", it's the freedom to engage in satire.

    23. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by ArcadeMan · · Score: 1

      Another thing I can think of is that South American's take GREAT offense when you refer to people in the USA as American.

      Being Canadian, I'm also annoyed when people say "American" since America is made of two whole continents, however I'm not sure what word I'm supposed to use. Some people say "USAsian" but it sounds like "U.S. asian" to me.

    24. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by cold+fjord · · Score: 2

      The White House explicitly asked for the execution of the NK leader to be retained in the film.

      Didn't happen.

      --
      much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who don't even know that fire is hot - George Orwell
    25. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The internet settled this a long time ago when talking about citizens of the US of America. The polite form of address is Muricans and the less polite form is Merkins.

    26. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by cold+fjord · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I see the Committee For Perpetual Rage Against America is hard at work again, and one of its prominent spokesmen has released a statement. Let's take a look at it.

      Yes, freedom of speech and all that, but free speech is not free from consequences. Expecting the North Koreans not to react, expecting it not to affect the US-DPRK relationship is naive at best.

      So you're suggesting that North Korea doesn't like to get treated the same way it treats others?

      North Korea blows up White House in propaganda video - Mar 19, 2013

      The Chinese do have a point here.

      The Chinese? The same People's Republic of China that is actively trying to steal land, sea, and resources from its neighbors while the US is helping China's neighbors defend themselves? Those neighbors might have a different opinion.

      First the US attacks other countries with cyber weapons like Struxnet ...

      You mean Iran's illicit nuclear weapons program? So you prefer a shooting war then, with nuclear weapons?

      Then it gets in a huff when others attack its movie industry, and tries to take the moral high ground.

      You're comparing a comedy movie to nuclear weapons? Do we all need to fear the coming HarHarmageddon? You don't think that is a little unhinged, do you?

      They also have a point about insulting the leaders of other countries.

      We've already seen that North Korea long ago showed propaganda featuring the destruction of the White House with the implication of killing the US President. Will you now turn your complaints against North Korea? I suspect not, your perpetual grievance is with the US, you only need the cause of the moment.

      Considering the delicate nature of the relationship between North Korea and the US making this kind of film doesn't seem like a very smart move.

      North Korea considers itself at war with much of the rest of the world, and technically they are right. But even given that, and the previously demonstrated North Korean propaganda, are you claiming that the North Koreans are dumb too with that statement? Do you think that might be risky?

      --
      much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who don't even know that fire is hot - George Orwell
    27. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The proper form of address to people using either term is "ass hat."

    28. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by cold+fjord · · Score: 1

      It's not just China, all the other countries think the U.S.A. is arrogant.

      That doesn't seem to be likely.

      Which countries don’t like America and which do

      Your pronouncement seems to have more to do with you than with the actual views of people in "all the other countries."

      --
      much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who don't even know that fire is hot - George Orwell
    29. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by Immerman · · Score: 1

      No, they're quite right. Nobody ever said freedom of speech meant freedom from the consequences of that speech. You can say whatever you like, your government won't try to stop you, but sling vile insults at some guy at the bar and you're liable to get a fist to the face in response. This is much the same - sling insults at a dictator who needs a steady stream of excuses to maintain the international tensions that keep his position stable, and you've got to expect he's going to counterattack.

      Besides which Freedom of Speech is an American/European thing, what makes you think it has the slightest relevance on the international stage? Most people in the world have no such freedom guaranteed by their government.

      --
      --- Most topics have many sides worth arguing, allow me to take one opposite you.
    30. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by ArcadeMan · · Score: 1

      It's not a like-or-hate choice. We might think the U.S.A. is arrogant and still count them as friendly.

    31. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by murkwood7 · · Score: 0

      You beat me to, what seems to me to be, obvious rejoinders to the excuses given here. And did a MUCH better job than I could!

      I would add that the US, given its melting-pot nature, is the target of every monoculture-country(TM) on this planet. For obvious reasons.

      --
      - X/Y -
    32. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I disagree. It's exactly a free speech or appeasement issue.

      It is true that eastern and oriental cultures place a high value on dignity and respect. Certainly I buy that there are some culture clash issues on that point. However it's helpful for outsiders when citizens and leaders of those cultures are worthy of that respect, based upon something more than fear and the high office attained by said leaders.

      Worthy of respect? Kim Jong Un? I don't think so.

      Worthy of respect? Aung San Suu Kyi? The Dalai Lama? Absolutely! Current and recent past leaders of China, South Korea, Japan, etc? Mostly yes.

      But North Korea, the Hermit Kingdom, one of the most repressive places on Earth? A country built on a cult of personality? A place where an estimated 1/3 of children are malnourished? Absolutely not.

      What you don't appear to get is that "people's lives are on the line" regardless. The leadership and propaganda arms of North Korea are likely to go off over most anything, including the heat level of their kimchee. These ill-mannered louts regularly threaten nuclear destruction against the South Koreans and the US. Appeasement of the North Korean Communists has never been a path to anything positive or productive.

    33. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just how much would you like the West to appease the likes of Kim Jong-Un?

      Here's a thought, how about you just leave him alone?

      As someone else said, speech may be free, but not necessarily without consequence.

      The US sure gets upset with flag burnings and such, so if you are so fond of "free speech" why do you care if others burn the flag?

    34. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by uassholes · · Score: 1

      That was on the planet Zooby. On Earth, the president has better things to do. What have you been reading (or smoking)?

    35. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by Razed+By+TV · · Score: 1

      So we should burn any movie script that dares insult some violent tyrant, lest they get upset? Should we also stop publishing reports on said tyrants? Just how much would you like the West to appease the likes of Kim Jong-Un?

      I've gone back and forth on this. On one hand, you have Sony and the movie theaters ceding to the demands/threats of the hackers/terrorists. On another hand, you have Hollywood doing one of the things it does best, pushing the limits of shock value for the sake of monetary gain. On the third hand, you have a smaller group provoking a larger, despotic group, with considerable power, with little regard to the tensions it would cause.

      If the movie were merely insulting, I would think the reaction of North Korea to be unwarranted. But this is basically a threat, however unlikely, backed by a US company and its Japanese parent. If I were to create a fiction involving the assassination of the president of the US, you can be pretty sure the US government would try to shut it down.

    36. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by celle · · Score: 1

      "People listen and actually murder several million in your race/religion, get the fuck over it."

            They took direct violent physical action which harmed millions. They were wrong and should be punished.

      "Speech is an act. It's a more powerful act in terms of efficiency than any sticks or stones. It has consequences - sometimes these consequences should involve legal sanctions, and often not, but there are always ethical consequences."

              Speech is a non-physical indirect exchange of ideas, that's it. Ethics is still about ideas. "Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me." The minute someone takes physical action to harm someone else they are wrong. That's where consequences should be exacted, nowhere else. In order to have freedom of speech you can't have consequences otherwise speech won't be free as self-censoring will be the order of the day. Something we see a lot of anymore.

    37. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by celle · · Score: 1

      "You can say whatever you like, your government won't try to stop you, but sling vile insults at some guy at the bar and you're liable to get a fist to the face in response."

          And the minute he got violent he was wrong. That's why in the eyes of the law it's assault. Physical actions generate responses. Ideas are just ideas until actions are taken and speech is just a medium for ideas, good or bad is irrelevant, but when actions are taken that's when it becomes important. You do understand that by advocating for consequences you're supporting the idea of thought police, don't you?

    38. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Perhaps you live in a dream world? You are your own "thought-police", your "almanac of ethics", namely your code of law in whatever book form is what you most likely choose to live by, morally. You censor yourself. To a point, your own brain censors/filters you and your environment. On a more or less subconscious level...Thought police -- These words gives me funny feelings, to me, it merely implies a harsher form of ethical restraint. Just another form of censorship. And almost everything is regulated, censored, filtered and what not. You might as well call it "Thought regulation".. And free speech? Speech is free from what? Regulation? Syntax? Restraint? Another freedom induced lyre. Freedom what from what. Good day, sir.

    39. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      give* and -what

    40. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Strange what goes by "Cultural relativism" ... I always thought that one means of relativism in such matters was to relativise the bad things done by you -- in relation to your own things of course -- by comparing them to other harsh or harsher things, or something like that.. As in, yes this was a very terrible act, but the other guy did something even worse the other day. And in summary, does that indicate to make all such scripts disappear?

    41. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      mean* or was that rather relativising history-relativism? :P

    42. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      You are agreeing with me, supporting my point. Both sides are as bad as each other, and the US is hypocritical for calling out the DPRK for it.

      Well, actually the US is worse, because Struxnet did real damage to Iran's nuclear programme. All NK might have done is hack Sony and make a few threats. You can try to justify it any way you like, but the simple fact is that the US has deployed cyber weapons against another nation state and then denied it, so is at best on the same level as North Korea in moral terms.

      The only legitimate way to attack another country is to declare war in self defence. The law is quite clear on that, anything else is illegal aggression.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    43. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In order to have freedom of speech you can't have consequences otherwise speech won't be free as self-censoring will be the order of the day.

      Yelling "fire" in a crowded theatre. Incitement to riot. Libel/slander. Fraud. Uttering a threat. Conspiracy to commit murder. You don't consider the laws relating to those appropriate?

    44. Re: "Cultural arrogance" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Are you nuts? Do you KNOW how MANY movies there are about the assassination of POTUS, both successful and not? Seriously?

    45. Re: "Cultural arrogance" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      People choose what they call themselves. To call them otherwise is disrespectful.

    46. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      and racist against white people. Beware of big US companies' EMEA offices arriving in your country with the promises of jobs. Prepare to be usurped and evicted out of your country wholesale and replaced with Asians!

    47. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by dcw3 · · Score: 1

      Inciting a riot != freedom of speech.

      --
      Just another day in Paradise
    48. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's a completely different issue if the U.S. government made this movie. I like how easily you dismiss freedom of speech, a core fundamental liberty of the U.S. The U.S. government can't stop The Interview from being made even if they wanted; it is completely out of their realm of control as is guaranteed by the constitution.

    49. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by dcw3 · · Score: 1

      "The US" is not a monolith. It doesn't have one voice, and one opinion. People speak out both for and against this movie, flag burning as free speech, and a variety of other issues.

      So, while I'm here, I'll just give my own $.02 on the movie. I think it's a mean and stupid thing to make a movie about killing someone, anyone, including an evil dictator. And while I'm a strong proponent of the freedom of speech, that freedom stops at the point where it impacts the freedom of others.

      --
      Just another day in Paradise
    50. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by dcw3 · · Score: 1

      Really? Where do you get this? Do you have any credible source?

      --
      Just another day in Paradise
    51. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by dcw3 · · Score: 1

      Um, because there was a significant financial impact, as well as impact on many employees...would you like to be a Sony employee right now? Not to mention, the "9/11 style" threat. And, while we're all pretty sure that threat is BS, it wouldn't take much to actually do something serious.

      Oh, and what the fuck are you talking about? There's no comparison between federal agency spying (as done by all countries), and attacking an industry in another country, and making threats against civilians.

      --
      Just another day in Paradise
    52. Re: "Cultural arrogance" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think you mean jealous. the rest of the world is jealous that the USA runs the world. oh yea we created the Internet too.

      you fucking leech.

    53. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by dcw3 · · Score: 1

      "Both sides are as bad as each other"???

      Seriously? Go learn something about DPRK before you speak out of your ass again. There is no comparison.

      --
      Just another day in Paradise
    54. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by dcw3 · · Score: 1

      The proper form of address to people using either term is "ass hat."

      A.K.A Anonymous Coward

      --
      Just another day in Paradise
    55. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by Immerman · · Score: 1

      Actually no, assault refers to verbal violence (often specifically the threat of physical violence), it's battery that refers to physical violence. And most cases I've heard of take verbal provocation into account.

      Again though, we're talking *American* law. Trying to make that the standard for international dealings is practically the definition of cultural arrogance.

      --
      --- Most topics have many sides worth arguing, allow me to take one opposite you.
    56. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by sjames · · Score: 1

      I saw a bit on the news last night that a man who escaped from N. Korea years ago and now lives in S. Korea obtained hundreds of copies of the movie and sent them into N. Korea using helium balloons.

      He said that after a life of hearing only what the government wanted him to hear, his eyes were opened when he found some pamphlets delivered by a similar balloon and he realized he must leave by any means. He wants N. Koreans to know what the rest of the world thinks of their leader.

    57. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by dcw3 · · Score: 1

      It's not a like-or-hate choice. We might think the U.S.A. is arrogant and still count them as friendly.

      And, while our actions as a nation frequently are arrogant, we end up being expected to take action around the globe simply because nobody else is willing and able. I would personally prefer the "walk softly, and carry a big stick" approach. It seems similar to the issues the US is going through with police right now...many see them as overreaching, and overreacting, but we sure don't want to be without them.

      --
      Just another day in Paradise
    58. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by dcw3 · · Score: 1

      Yeah, this is funny, right?

      Wikipedia:
      Estimates of the death toll vary widely. Out of a total population of approximately 22 million, somewhere between 240,000 and 3,500,000 North Koreans died from starvation or hunger-related illnesses, with the deaths peaking in 1997.

      The International Coalition to Stop Crimes Against Humanity in North Korea (ICNK) estimates that over 10,000 people die in North Korean prison camps every year

      North Korean defectors have provided detailed testimonies on the existence of the total control zones where abuses such as torture, starvation, rape, murder, medical experimentation, forced labor, and forced abortions have been reported.

      --
      Just another day in Paradise
    59. Re:"Cultural arrogance" by sjames · · Score: 1

      In the '80s there was a punk band called "Jodie Foster's Army". There was no official comment from the Reagan Administration.

    60. Re: "Cultural arrogance" by Razed+By+TV · · Score: 1

      About the assassination of a specific, currently in power, POTUS? I don't know of any.

      I know of movies that assassinate a generic POTUS, or perhaps a previous POTUS. I have never seen a movie in which the current president (at the time of filming), has been assassinated.

  2. Idiots by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Why did we ask China to help us avenge an attack on a Japanese business?

    1. Re:Idiots by Lunix+Nutcase · · Score: 1

      Sony Pictures is a US corporation.

    2. Re:Idiots by OrangeTide · · Score: 1

      Owned by a Tokyo business.

      If someone doesn't like the US, Japan and Hollywood then it's the perfect place to attack.

      --
      “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
  3. North Korea have not conducted any cyber attacks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    but Americans are of course willing to hate whoever their government and media tells them to hate, and will do so until their mouths are frothing. Today it is North Korea, tomorrow it will be Iran, Pakistan, and everyone else who does not want to yield.

  4. Senseless Cultural Arrogance by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Senseless Cultural Arrogance is what we do best.

    1. Re:Senseless Cultural Arrogance by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you don't like our senseless cultural arrogance, then stop buying[pirating] our movies!

    2. Re:Senseless Cultural Arrogance by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why would we stop purating your movies? Doesn't that cost your economy eleventy trillion dollars?

    3. Re:Senseless Cultural Arrogance by dcw3 · · Score: 1

      I see you're from Europe.

      --
      Just another day in Paradise
  5. Not like... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    we ever make movies about killing our own president... nah, movies like that would never sell....

    It's an fing movie... get over it.

    1. Re:Not like... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      If China or North Korea made a movie about killing a US president would you feel the same way?

      Somehow doubt it.

    2. Re: Not like... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Uhm... Yeah!

    3. Re: Not like... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      yes we fucking would. NK made a video circa 2013 depicting the White House being blown up along with our fearless leader Obama.

      check your fucking facts before you just make shit up and say it. you have no clue how we act or react to shit. so stop pretending you fucking do. asshole.

    4. Re:Not like... by dcw3 · · Score: 1

      Um, they did. We're over it.

      --
      Just another day in Paradise
  6. Cyber vs Real by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In our cybersecurity discussions, both China and the United States have expressed the view that conducting destructive attacks in cyberspace is outside the norms of appropriate cyber behavior.

    In their realspace security discussions however, both China and the United States have expressed the view that launching destructive attacks in realspace is appropriate behavior. /Sarcasm

  7. Good luck with that... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    IF North Korea was behind the Sony hack/attack, it would not have happened without China's tacit approval at the very least.

    Why would the NorKs start out by trying to extort money from Sony?

    1. Re:Good luck with that... by MightyMartian · · Score: 1

      I don't think NK is a satellite state in the usual sense of the word. China certainly shields NK, but its reasoning isn't always clear. NK does act as a major counterbalance to US interests (Japan, South Kore and Taiwan). At the same time, NK seems extremely suspicious of China and some believe that at least part of the reason for the latest purge was to cut out members of the regime with too close a ties to China.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    2. Re:Good luck with that... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't think NK is a satellite state in the usual sense of the word. China certainly shields NK, but its reasoning isn't always clear. NK does act as a major counterbalance to US interests (Japan, South Kore and Taiwan). At the same time, NK seems extremely suspicious of China and some believe that at least part of the reason for the latest purge was to cut out members of the regime with too close a ties to China.

      North Korea is a vicious, stupid, feral Chihuahua.

      China is your neighbor that not only lets the damn thing live under his porch where it can freely act maniacally whenever its craziness demands, but also feeds it to ensure it sticks around.

    3. Re:Good luck with that... by SwabianEngineer · · Score: 1

      Did you ever consider that YOU are the target of all these horror stories about the "MAD MAD KIM!!!!!".

      The bad Kimmie is a nice and totally harmless diversionary fire for OUR master criminals to pull off some big shit while the Kim plays yet another harmless antic.

      Our Top Criminals would even PAY the "bad Kim" towards that end.

      PWNED !

    4. Re:Good luck with that... by dcw3 · · Score: 1

      You have nothing to base your supposition on, other than pure speculation.

      --
      Just another day in Paradise
  8. China is the logical choice to ask. by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 1

    China is the logical choice to ask. After all, they're behind many of the attacks on government and business. Kind of like "takes a thief to catch a thief."

    --
    "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
  9. No hope by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The Chinese (and North Koreans) are angling themselves to become the leading superpower in the world, so they are bound to undermine the USA at every turn. It may be time to stop thinking of them as allies and more like aggressive competition. China has long used NK as a buffer and something to create tension. South China Sea, Tibet, Uyghurs, Great Firewall of China. It's almost like they are the opposite of freedom.

  10. Enough about dictators imposing censorship by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I've heard enough about Innocence of Muslims and how its producer was arrested and jailed.

    How about that Sony hack though?

  11. "We didn't do it. Shutup or we'll do it again." by JoshuaZ · · Score: 2, Insightful
    North Korea's response seems to be "We didn't do it. Shutup or we'll do it again." See for example the quotes listed at http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/21/world/asia/north-korea-us-sony/index.html?hpt=hp_c2. After saying that they didn't do it, North Korea then says that:

    The DPRK has already launched the toughest counteraction. Nothing is more serious miscalculation than guessing that just a single movie production company is the target of this counteraction. Our target is all the citadels of the U.S. imperialists who earned the bitterest grudge of all Koreans.

    They then go on to say that their soldiers along with the hackers in question are sharpening their bayonets. North Korea seems to want to have it both ways: claiming that they didn't do it, but wanting everyone to take their threats seriously like they did. At this point, there really shouldn't be substantial doubt that North Korea is responsible. The only question is what the proper response is.

    1. Re:"We didn't do it. Shutup or we'll do it again." by AmiMoJo · · Score: 3, Informative

      The article you linked to doesn't have any references, and sounds like it is based on an extremely poor translation. Looking at the official DPRK news agency, they don't seem to mention it: http://www.kcna.kp/kcna.user.a...

      What the do say is that if they were to retaliate it wouldn't be a terrorist attack on innocent movie-goers, it would be a military strike on the leadership. That seems to match what the badly translated CNN statement says, i.e. that they wouldn't attack some random corporation or civilians, they would attack the leadership who they hold responsible.

      The entire narrative of the DPRK is based on this idea that the majority of Americans are innocent, if deluded, and should be freed from the control of their masters. Without going in to how close to the mark that might actually be, it's basically a reflection of the US narrative on regime change.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    2. Re:"We didn't do it. Shutup or we'll do it again." by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't know. The U.S. isn't trustworthy in the slightest. So, there is still plenty of doubt. This looks suspiciously like the U.S. looking for an excuse to F@!$ with N. Korea.

      I hope someone sane has enough power in the U.S. Govt. to stop this silliness. Potential nuclear war over some pathetic movie studio's secrets.

      Remember N. Korea isn't some tiny, weak, former client state without means to defend itself (as the U.S. usually picks on)-- N. Korea has nukes. I can only think the crazies in U.S. Govt., think their offensive "missile defense" is good enough for them to execute a first strike with minimal consequences. Scary as hell.

    3. Re:"We didn't do it. Shutup or we'll do it again." by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      At this point, there really shouldn't be substantial doubt that North Korea is responsible. The only question is what the proper response is.

      Right... They also said how they will bring nuclear annihilation to America. It's called grandstanding. North Korean government is expert at this one thing and one thing only.

      To be very frank, catch the people involved. Then show that they are North Korean. Everything else is bullshit, considering that the purpose of these hackers was apparently extortion (money), not canceling any movie.

    4. Re:"We didn't do it. Shutup or we'll do it again." by dj245 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The article you linked to doesn't have any references, and sounds like it is based on an extremely poor translation. Looking at the official DPRK news agency, they don't seem to mention it: http://www.kcna.kp/kcna.user.a...

      What the do say is that if they were to retaliate it wouldn't be a terrorist attack on innocent movie-goers, it would be a military strike on the leadership. That seems to match what the badly translated CNN statement says, i.e. that they wouldn't attack some random corporation or civilians, they would attack the leadership who they hold responsible.

      The entire narrative of the DPRK is based on this idea that the majority of Americans are innocent, if deluded, and should be freed from the control of their masters. Without going in to how close to the mark that might actually be, it's basically a reflection of the US narrative on regime change.

      We are deluded. There isnt a shred of evidence tying the DPRK to this hacking and yet they get all the blame. The movie was filmed in Fall 2013, but there were no statements from the DPRK until June 2014. They really arent the kind of people to miss out on a threatening press release if given even the slightest opportunity. Their press bureau literally salivates a this kind of thing. They also rarely lie. Huge exaggerations? Sure. But not lies. So it seems reasonable they didnt hear about the movie until June when official announcements and trailers started coming out

      Meanwhile, the hackers apparently got into Sony's systems over a year ago. They first asked for money, then only later started talking about The Interview and wanting it pulled. The broken english used in their communications is not consistent with a Korean speaker. DPRK citizens speaking english is pretty obvious- they only have a small number of schools which teach it, and without many native english speakers, the teachers are very consistent.

      We need to back up a little and reask the question of who did it. The answer might be even more interesting that the line we are being fed.

      --
      Even those who arrange and design shrubberies are under considerable economic stress at this period in history.
    5. Re:"We didn't do it. Shutup or we'll do it again." by antifoidulus · · Score: 1

      Um, have you ever thought that maybe the reason there wasn't any response until June 2014 was because the movie wasn't hyped until then? Do you really think there is someone deep in the bowels of Pyongyang scraping TMZ looking for any hints of a movie that may not be portraying North Korea in a glowing fashion?

    6. Re:"We didn't do it. Shutup or we'll do it again." by dj245 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Um, have you ever thought that maybe the reason there wasn't any response until June 2014 was because the movie wasn't hyped until then? Do you really think there is someone deep in the bowels of Pyongyang scraping TMZ looking for any hints of a movie that may not be portraying North Korea in a glowing fashion?

      That's exactly my point. Why would North Korea hack Sony 6 months before they were aware of such a movie? Sony has pissed off a huge number of people, especially technically-minded people. The DPRK is just a convenient scapegoat.

      --
      Even those who arrange and design shrubberies are under considerable economic stress at this period in history.
    7. Re:"We didn't do it. Shutup or we'll do it again." by dcw3 · · Score: 1

      There isnt a shred of evidence tying the DPRK to this hacking and yet they get all the blame.

      Incorrect, but I will agree that what's been provided is not conclusive, and weak. And, I stopped trusting the government commentary long before WMD were claimed to exist in Iraq. I ***hope*** that they're basing their findings on more than just this. But I also know that evidence can't always be made public because it can reveal sources of intelligence, and make them unusable. So, who should we believe, a clearly evil dictator, or a federal agency that for the most part has a pretty good track record. Well, short of us declaring war, I think I'll go with the feds...thanks for playing.

              Technical analysis of the data deletion malware used in this attack revealed links to other malware that the FBI knows North Korean actors previously developed. For example, there were similarities in specific lines of code, encryption algorithms, data deletion methods, and compromised networks.
              The FBI also observed significant overlap between the infrastructure used in this attack and other malicious cyber activity the U.S. government has previously linked directly to North Korea. For example, the FBI discovered that several Internet protocol (IP) addresses associated with known North Korean infrastructure communicated with IP addresses that were hardcoded into the data deletion malware used in this attack.
              Separately, the tools used in the SPE attack have similarities to a cyber attack in March of last year against South Korean banks and media outlets, which was carried out by North Korea.

      --
      Just another day in Paradise
  12. Weak Society by shanejoel · · Score: 1

    America has turned into a very weak society. Lets all run around with our panties in a bunch and do what we are told. In world war II, america had cartoons of hitler and the japs, and no one cared what hitler thought about them, or were ready to lay down and die at hitler's command. Ive actually seen comments that it was stupid for us to make a movie such as the interview. What about sony maybe hiring an IT guy to secure their network? Oh, we can't do that with our millions. I noted a week later, their network was still comprimised if not longer now. That job is certainly non existant, or outsourced to another country who couldnt care less and is known for scamming clueless american computer users for money.

    1. Re:Weak Society by ToasterMonkey · · Score: 1

      America has turned into a very weak society. Lets all run around with our panties in a bunch and do what we are told.

      Theater chains don't want to run the movie because of liability concerns, Sony does't want to launch the movie in a limited number of theaters. It all comes down to dollars and lawyers in the end.

      "very weak society" because movie premier was delayed == entitlement syndrome

      If you want to see Americans not giving a fuck, give businesses legal immunity for anything bad that happens.
      (LoL @ ^, like you ever need to look very hard)

      Now excuse me, I'm going to put in Team America and draw silly cartoons of Kim Dot Ill John whatever his name is.

    2. Re:Weak Society by dcw3 · · Score: 1
      --
      Just another day in Paradise
    3. Re: Weak Society by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That protects insurrance companies, that doesn't protect you if you keep your business open after receiving threats and the insurrance company says hell no.

      Insurrance and money aside, there are other liability questions.

      Also, the legal meaning of terrorism is not what most people think it is.

  13. Re:North Korea have not conducted any cyber attack by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    We have always been at war with eastasia

  14. what do by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Russia, North Korea, Syria, Iraq, and Iran have in common? That's right, All of them have been targets of US propaganda.

    1. Re:what do by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your list is missing a lot of entries.

      The US Propaganda machine has gone after most nations of the world at some point in time.

    2. Re: what do by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      oh for fuck sakes. we are not the only ones who spew propaganda. stop acting like your home countries are any better, because they are not. in fact they are probably worst. every country has a propaganda machine.

      I hate how people bash America for this shit but easily turn a blind eye on their own mishaps. pot meet kettle :/

    3. Re:what do by dcw3 · · Score: 1

      Really? Who runs the "US Propaganda machine"? You've been watching too much Wizard of Oz, and there's nobody behind your imaginary curtain.

      --
      Just another day in Paradise
  15. Corporate rights by gmuslera · · Score: 1

    Somewhat the right of privacy of a corporation matters, while the right of privacy of basically 99.99% of mankind (at least, of the ones with access to internet) has been abolished. Do as I say, not as i do.

  16. Time to strike back at N. Korea with a meme by JoeyRox · · Score: 1

    I for one am tired of N. Korea's arrogance in having been successful in shutting down Sony's release of the movie. I say it's time to strike back - how about we start a meme where we photoshop and videoshop/YouTube images of Kim Jong Un into compromising depictions? I'm being completely serious. Let's see if N. Korea can shut down the entire internet before we make a laughing stock of them.

    1. Re:Time to strike back at N. Korea with a meme by bruce_the_loon · · Score: 1

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ce_954P20I. Nuff said. Let the humiliation of world leaders begin.

      --
      Trying to become famous by taking photos. Visit my homepage please.
    2. Re:Time to strike back at N. Korea with a meme by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How about doing it S1E1 Black Mirror style?

  17. Re:North Korea have not conducted any cyber attack by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength.

    We have always been at war with someone, be it the cold war, Iraq-I, the 'war on terror', and I'm sure just about anywhere in eurasia/eastasia.

  18. Cultural differences by gman003 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    In China (and most east-asian cultures), you never disrespect rulers. It simply is not done, and they see it as a grave insult to the entire nation to do so.

    In west-european and north-american cultures, particularly the US, everyone is a fair target for mockery. We mock Kim Jong-eun because he does things worth making fun of. We mocked Hitler because he did things worth making fun of, and we continue to do so. We also mocked Obama, Bush, Clinton... we still regularly mock Nixon, just because it's still funny. Britain makes fun of Cameron, and to a lesser extent, the Royal Family. We have entire industries based around making a mockery of our political leaders, and we would be insulted if you asked us to stop.

    The only ones we do not mock are those who do absolutely nothing and are of no significance whatsoever. It would be a greater insult for us to NOT satirize them, because that says we don't give a single shit about them, that they are not even worthy of our derision.

    1. Re:Cultural differences by cascadingstylesheet · · Score: 2

      In China (and most east-asian cultures), you never disrespect rulers. It simply is not done, and they see it as a grave insult to the entire nation to do so.

      In west-european and north-american cultures, particularly the US, everyone is a fair target for mockery.

      Well, almost everyone is a fair target. The current occupant of the White House is only criticized or mocked by racists, we are told by the best and brightest.

    2. Re: Cultural differences by DigiShaman · · Score: 1

      Which is why America was give respect by the Japanese post signing the declaration of surrender.

      N.Korea is of the same mindset. They will not respect anyone until after they've been conquered by a new ruler.

      --
      Life is not for the lazy.
    3. Re:Cultural differences by cold+fjord · · Score: 1

      In China (and most east-asian cultures), you never disrespect rulers. It simply is not done ....

      That works fine for people under their control, but we now live in a global information age in which the opinion of some minor person around the globe could find its way there. They should probably toughen up. Besides, if they want to sling it they need to learn to take it, and both North Korea and China have had plenty of anti-American and anti-Western propaganda over the years, including that aimed specifically at the leaders.

      .... and they see it as a grave insult to the entire nation to do so.

      "L'état, c'est moi" in North Korea or China? I thought the Communists did away with royalty. Live and learn I guess.

      --
      much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who don't even know that fire is hot - George Orwell
    4. Re:Cultural differences by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      >> In China (and most east-asian cultures), you never disrespect rulers. It simply is not done, and they see it as a grave insult to the entire nation to do so.

      Surprise. Hong Kong is still pretty damn East-Asian cultured.

    5. Re:Cultural differences by celle · · Score: 1

      "In China (and most east-asian cultures), you never disrespect rulers. It simply is not done, and they see it as a grave insult to the entire nation to do so."

            That's because the rulers of those cultures strictly killed any casual dissenters outright over thousands of years thereby breeding casual dissent out of the culture. East vs West is the "cathedral and the bazaar" in human cultures.

          Wow I made this political story opensource and slashdot relevant.

  19. What a joke by koan · · Score: 1

    It's really gone too far now, from a laughable hack to a global embarrassment courtesy of Hollywood, destroyer of ethics, morals and purveyor of propaganda for decades.
    If you want to show weakness, asking China for help was a great way to do it, tie this fiasco in with Feinstein's "torture report" that put American lives in danger overseas and we have a clear picture of 3rd Worldism incompetence.

    --
    "If any question why we died, Tell them because our fathers lied."
    1. Re:What a joke by uassholes · · Score: 1

      If you want to take away the Kimster's internet, you talk to China. That's where the wires go.

    2. Re:What a joke by dcw3 · · Score: 1

      Claims are that it didn't source physically in NK. It's not the first time (making an assumption here that it actually was them) they've done shit outside of their actual boarders.

      --
      Just another day in Paradise
  20. I've seen plenty of those... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    However, unlike The Interview, they generally have the tact to make it a FICTIONAL CARICATURE of the president in question, assuming it's not an entirely stereotypical archetype (usually grey or white haired caucasian depicted as culturally insensitive, possibly a coward, and usually thuggish.)

    Hell, the 2012 Hunter x Hunter even made reference to Kim Jong Un during the Chimera Ant arc, but they neither cited him by name, nor made him out as the villain (There were at least 3-5 different groups vying for that title over the course of the arc, and the only remaining one by the end was the World Government.) Not being plugged in to Asian culture I have no idea if there was any NK hostility over that show's depiction of him, but it did give a good example of the issues with the American media's reference in comparison to the global standard for such things.)

    1. Re:I've seen plenty of those... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      However, unlike The Interview, they generally have the tact to make it a FICTIONAL CARICATURE of the president in question...

      BULLSHIT

    2. Re:I've seen plenty of those... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Team America, Fuck Yeah!

    3. Re:I've seen plenty of those... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I can't even imagine what a caricature of Kim Jong Un would be like. It's hard to parody an out of touch dictator that rules with absolute power. He's gone rather mad.

    4. Re:I've seen plenty of those... by MightyMartian · · Score: 2

      We could make him so fat he damages his own joints... Damn, he even beat us to that bit of parody.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
  21. Disingenuous at best. by Rick+in+China · · Score: 1

    There is no political currency in asking for your 'cyber-enemy' to cooperate in investigating an attack by a country whose biggest ally is said cyber-enemy. It's a worthless news-bit at best, and opening a door for problems at worst...imagine, US who accuses China of so many cyber attacks, now saying to China "can you help us investigate the SPE attack" (a Japanese company, 'China's sworn enemy'). The whole thing is turning into a fucking clown-shoes filled dance party.

    1. Re:Disingenuous at best. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No it's not. If the US asks China to make a movie about killing the leader of North Korea, and then China gets hacked, then they will for sure know who did it [1]. If China doesn't get hacked, then they will know who did it [2].

      [1] If China gets hacked, then it was actually China that did the hack, not the DPRK.
      [2] If China does not get hacked, then it was the DPRK that did it, because the DPRK won't go and piss off China.

    2. Re:Disingenuous at best. by swb · · Score: 1

      I can only guess that this a veiled threat to help limit their capabilities or risk being collateral damage in any responses that may target assets in China linked to North Korea.

      It's also a way of engaging the segments of the Chinese leadership sick of getting caught up in North Korea's antics. The NY Times had a piece this morning highlighting an anti-NK article written by a senior Chinese army officer.

    3. Re:Disingenuous at best. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      [1] you a child molester in your own home
      [2] if not[1] then your are child molester lose in the neighborhood

      won't anyone think of the children!

    4. Re:Disingenuous at best. by Rick+in+China · · Score: 1

      China needs NK to have 'antics'. The more aggressive the US is with North Korea, gives China more opportunity to finger point and criticise.. also, having NK next to China makes China's human rights abuses seem insignificant in comparison.

    5. Re:Disingenuous at best. by swb · · Score: 1

      I think they definitely get mileage out of it, but China has some of their own inbuilt paranoia about NK. The last thing the Chinese want is a war on their border. The refugee crisis would be completely destabilizing on its own let alone the risk of war with the United States.

  22. Re:North Korea have not conducted any cyber attack by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Don't forget the War on our Own People, also known as the War on Drugs

  23. US President always cast in bright light too..not. by Vegan+Cyclist · · Score: 2

    Riiiiiight.... This really illustrates the double standard and opposition to freedom of expression by Chinese leaders. Hollywood has had the US president appear as all sorts of unsavoury characters, from an utter buffoon to corrupt in numerous films and tv series. (As well as other Western allies, like the UK Prime Minister.) You don't see China complaining about that... It's not 'senseless cultural ignorance', it's just the sense of humour from a few writers. Maybe Chinese leaders should investigate their own senseless cultural ignorance too. Their wilful, state-enforced ignorance is just about as senseless as these films.

  24. Oh the irony by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Anyone else noticed that this is over Sony, but if it were the president that got threatened, he'd most likely send seal team six in to finish Kim off.

  25. FBI evidence by jones_supa · · Score: 1

    It seems that even the FBI's evidence isn't watertight. They only claimed that the tools used were similar to attacks that had previously originated from North Korea.

    The FBI said technical analysis of malicious software used in the Sony attack found links to malware that "North Korean actors" had developed and found a "significant overlap" with "other malicious cyber activity" previously tied to Pyongyang. But it otherwise gave scant details on how it concluded that North Korea was behind the attack.

  26. Re:US President always cast in bright light too..n by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If the interview was about Obama it would never had been made and anyone considering making such a film would have had a nice visit from the secret service.

  27. Pretty sure we also.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Called African Americans 'niggers', or amongst polite folk 'negros' and required them to sit at the back of the bus.

    Neither racism nor Imperialism should be tolerated in the modern world.

    That said, it really is time for American to bring the full might of it's manufacturing and technological research back onto domestic soil, before it is too late.

  28. China doesn't understand by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The old adage, Joke em if they can't take a fuck.

    China can't quite wrap their heads around the fact that in the US there is this thing called "Free Speech"

    The Interview falls squarely under "Free Speech" and there is no arrogance in a movie being made about the leader of a country.

    What kind of message is sent from a leader not being able to recognize what is Humor and takes it in the vein of being cultural arrogance or worse, a threat. Kim Jung Un, by refusing to cooperate with America trying to sort this out, paints himself as the kid that, despite being a nerd, picked on, totally un-successful with the girls and with any measure of social acceptance, still tries to paint themselves as being the big tough guy and they are the only one fooled by their little act. These types are generally hyper sensitive to any slight criticism or humor at their expense, real or imagined. When they act out like this it says way more about them than it does about America making a political comedy movie.

    A respected mentor of mine once asserted that "You can't fix stupid' and it appears that Kim Jung Un and China suffer from that. Sony fucked up by bowing to the demands of the hacking group threatening violence, essentially sending the message to the world loud and clear: "Make a vague death threat, and sony will bow to your demands." This is exactly why in America we do not, under any circumstances negotiate with terrorists. It is unfortunate that China does not have integrity or respect for human rights or human lives to see these issues for what they are and agree with what the rest of the fucking world including America already sees as patently obvious, but everyone knows both China and North Korea are corrupt communist idiots and they will be the first against the wall when the next world war happens, you just wait and see.

  29. why should we even do anything? by nimbius · · Score: 2

    Seriously. Sony pictures is a subsidiary of a Japanese company, shouldnt the japanese government do something? North Korea has patently denied having a hand in the hacks or the threats against theatres, so shouldnt we work with them as theyre the victim here? This is a seriously disproportionate level of concern for whats basically been a pretty positive release. We found out studios are maliciously litigating google by bribing attorney generals, so who knows what other nefarious things theyre doing. Or is this all just ideological posturing on the part of an american government thats struggling to do something, anything, to prove its international policy is still relevant or meaningful.

    --
    Good people go to bed earlier.
    1. Re:why should we even do anything? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > Sony pictures is a subsidiary of a Japanese company, shouldnt the japanese government do something?

      Like send the korean language capable Yamaha vocaloid "SeeU" to Phenjang to sing about the wonders of harmony and friendship on a holographic screen? Japan has had this peacenik constitution for over 65 years, which requires them to paint F-15 fighter jets in cherry blossom, Fuji-sama tourist postcard "camouflage" scheme and decorate Cobra attack helicopters with larger-than-life Hello Kitty and colorful anime girl figures to "reduce" observability. They are no longer a nation of samurais and ninjas, they have been artificially feminimized-infantilized since the end of WW2, for over two generations, to become docile beyond peaceful. If the DPRK had enough troop boats and enough firepower to keep the USN away while crossing the pond, they could enslave all of Japan like a flock of sacrifical lamb.

  30. Dr Evil has something to say about this... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  31. Cultural Arrogance by StormReaver · · Score: 1

    The vicious mocking of Kim is only a result of senseless cultural arrogance.

    It's unusual to see such a blatant case of the pot calling the kettle black. North Korea's cultural arrogance just can't seem to comprehend that not everyone thinks as they do about mocking heads of State that do absurdly dumb things.

    For some bizarre reason, North Koreans seem to think that worshipping stupidity is a virtue. Idiocy deserves to be derided, and their leadership is chock full of idiots.

  32. Longer term impacts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I wonder why this is getting so much traction. This attack seems far less a cost to the American people that any one of the dozen account information hacks of the last few years. What is different? A nasty foreign power is accused as the culprit. A powerful company lost control over some rather embarrassing information about their recent business activities. Am I missing something?

    There is no question that in the aggregate American and its information economy is subject to harm by malicious acts on the global network. The very sharing of information that has opened up economic avenues simultaneously have created vectors for malfeasance. This is nothing new. Same problems, different day.

  33. He's so fat by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Kim Jong Un is an honorary American!

    1. Re:He's so fat by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Kim Jong Un is an honorary American!

      Kim Jong Un is Rosie O'Donnell's adopted brother.

  34. Re:US President always cast in bright light too..n by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Reference?

  35. Am I missing something? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why is there such a big deal about North Korea hacking Sony? Even if they did, what about Sony's shitty security? It sounds to me like politicians are beating the drum to go to war. Just like Iraq. And why is the US so concerned about a Japanese company? Oh right, the Hollywood lobby is quite strong. There are bigger concerns in the world, like ISIS, which the US should fight because their actions allowed ISIS to come into existence.

  36. Re:US President always cast in bright light too..n by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Oh, really? Are you sure that there hasn't been at least one movie made about assassinating the President?

  37. Get real, my friend by Simonetta · · Score: 1

    Get real, my friend. Stuxnet was designed to prevent psychotic religious fanatics from developing nuclear bombs. There is no real question as to whether the Iranians would use any nuclear bomb under their control to murder 100,000s of Jews in Israel. They have said that they will do it in so many words over and over again in their internal religious sermons. To the foreigners they're a little more diplomatic.

        The American-Ashkanzim alliance is the most productive alliance between peoples in all of history. We, as Americans, will never just sit back and watch fascist demented assholes like the Iranian mullahs murder thousands of Jewish people as we did in the early 1940s.

        There is no comparison between using hacking to destroy nuclear proliferation and using hacking to suppress an embarrassing Hollywood comedy movie. Anyone who thinks that the two are equal is a fool.

        You're a smart person if you're on Slashdot. Don't be a fool.

    1. Re:Get real, my friend by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're a smart person if you're on Slashdot.

      You must be new here.

  38. Re:US President always cast in bright light too..n by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Speaking as an English man the UK Prime Minister IS an unsavoury, utter buffoon!
    MI5 can add that to my file next to the entry were I called him an utter fuckwit!

  39. "appropriate cyber behavior" by aaaaaaargh! · · Score: 1

    This "cyber" bullshit is getting out of hand...

  40. Re:US President always cast in bright light too..n by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    But an honest question...

    If everything is truly open for criticism, how many times does the US film industry portray the US as a whole as the bad guy? I'm not talking the "corrupt CIA trying to take out someone who is spoiling their plans" but the country as a whole. Any time where there is an evil / incompetent US contingent, there is another US contingent "fighting for liberty and justice" that will save the day. So the US as a whole is never portrayed in a negative light. And I don't think there would be many people in the US that would not get massively outraged at any film that did go that far.

    The US has always been ok with poking fun at others, and only poke fun at themselves when they don't think it applies to them individually (even if it is a group they identify with, they will process it as not them).

  41. Who the F cares by hackus · · Score: 1

    ...about a stupid movie and a bunch of Hollywood execs and MORON ACTORS.

    They do not like the interent as it is, and this whole staged iodiocy is just another way to invent new ways to shut the internet down.

    Who gives a crap.

    --
    Got Geometrodynamics? Awe, too hard to figure out? Too bad.
  42. Shen Yang is in China by njhunter · · Score: 1

    The attack was orchestrated from China and China is North Korea's benefactor; the attack is from China.

  43. Re:North Korea have not conducted any cyber attack by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    War is war, peace is peace, freedom is freedom (And the question on freedom is, freedom from what?), slavery is slavery, ignorance is ignorance, strength is strength, and knowledge is knowledge! \o/

  44. America artificially paralyzed despite capability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    > Kim is still the leader of the country

    That's the problem and that needs to be fixed. Where is DevGRU when you need it? Those V-22 Osprey converti-planes for the NAVY SEALS and the US Army 101st cost an arm and a leg and the family silver to develop, buy and put into service. They should demonstrate a return on the investment now, hopefully returning with our special operations soldiers, the bagged corpse of Kim non-Dotcom and the half dozen or so DPRK nukes we just confiscated overnight.

    That would also give putin of russia some food for thought! USA is Home of the Brave and the Land of the Free. It is a shame to see her intimidated and prostrated by thugs coming from lesser nations, who can't hold a candle to the white anglo-saxon protestant founders of this great empire. Why is Superman afraid of a planets of apes? That's absurd!

  45. Let me get this straight. by idbeholda · · Score: 1

    We're talking about a country (NK) that barely has anything remotely passable as a nuclear weapons program, and people consider them a threat? Over a movie. OVER A GODDAMN MOVIE.

  46. WTF? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So we are getting China to help investigate North Korea for a crime they didn't commit.