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."

Comments

Re:"Cultural arrogance"

[ArcadeMan]

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

Re:"Cultural arrogance"

[AmiMoJo]

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.

Cultural differences

[gman003]

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.

Re:"Cultural arrogance"

[cold fjord]

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?