SONY-CYBERSECURITY/USA-CHINA China refutes U.S. senator’s claim of involvement in North Korea hacking attack

Record ID: 451749

  • Title: SONY-CYBERSECURITY/USA-CHINA China refutes U.S. senator’s claim of involvement in North Korea hacking attack
  • Date: 29th December 2014
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (DECEMBER 29, 2014) (REUTERS) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESWOMAN HUA CHUNYING WALKING IN FOR REGULAR NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALISTS SEATED AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESWOMAN HUA CHUNYING SAYING: "China does not permit any foreigners or individuals to carry out cyberattacks from within its borders or using any of its facilities. If any such conduct were to occur, we would manage it strictly according to law. I think that the relevant comment made by the individual from the U.S. side is not helpful for solving the problem, and is not beneficial to the mutual trust and cooperation for internet security issues." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS EXTERIOR OF CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY CHINESE NATIONAL FLAG FLYING
  • Embargoed: 13th January 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVADQZRIRJ1V2MD52AZRSTTSRYH6
  • Story Text: China's foreign ministry on Monday (December 29) refuted claims made by U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham that it was possibly involved in North Korea's cyberattack on Sony Pictures.
    During an interview with U.S. broadcaster CNN conducted on Sunday (December 28), Graham said that he could not fathom North Korea carrying a hacking attack without China's involvement.
    The attack, resulting in major expense and embarrassment for Sony, was allegedly conducted to deter Sony from showing a comedy film called "The Interview," the plot of which featured a scheme to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
    North Korea has denied responsibility for the attack on Sony.
    China has condemned the cyberattacks on Sony, but has repeatedly iterated that there is no proof that Pyongyang was responsible.
    Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said that Graham's comments were "not helpful" in dealing with cyber security issues.
    "China does not permit any foreigners or individuals to carry out cyberattacks from within its borders or using any of its facilities. If any such conduct were to occur, we would manage it strictly according to law. I think that the relevant comment made by the individual from the U.S. side is not helpful for solving the problem, and is not beneficial to the mutual trust and cooperation for internet security issues," Hua told media at a daily new conference.
    China is North Korea's only major ally, but their relationship has been strained over the past two years due to multiple nuclear tests which Pyongyang has conducted despite Beijing's disapproval.
    U.S. President Barack Obama promised retaliation for the attack but did not specify its form.
    North Korea's Internet and 3G mobile networks were recently shut down on several occasions, with the North Korean government blaming the United States for systemic instability in the country's networks.
    Most of North Korea's heavily restricted internet traffic passes through Chinese routers on its way to the outside world, and some have suggested it is China - increasingly annoyed by recalcitrant North Korean behaviour despite the two country's long-standing alliance - that is behind North Korea's recent internet troubles.
    But the United States has also accused China of cyber spying in the past and a U.S. official has said the attack on Sony could have used Chinese servers to mask its origin.
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