North Korea behind Sony hack, with possible China link - US official

Workers remove the poster for The Interview from a billboard in Hollywood, California, Dec 18, 2014. A US investigation into the hack of Sony's computer system has determined that North Korea was behind the operation with a possible Chinese link
Workers remove the poster for The Interview from a billboard in Hollywood, California, Dec 18, 2014. A US investigation into the hack of Sony's computer system has determined that North Korea was behind the operation with a possible Chinese link, a US official said on Friday. -- PHOTO: AFP

WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - A US investigation into the hack of Sony's computer system has determined that North Korea was behind the operation with a possible Chinese link, a US official said on Friday.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the conclusion was to be announced later by federal authorities.

The probe into the hack found North Korea was behind it and that there may be a Chinese link either through collaboration with Chinese actors or by using Chinese servers to mask the origination of the hack, the official said.

US officials on Friday were expected to make a formal statement.

Washington has called the strike against the big Hollywood studio a matter of national security but has not formally put the blame on North Korea, despite a US official's indication this week the Obama administration could soon tie it to Pyongyang.

US President Barack Obama was expected to address the issue at a 1.30pm EST news conference (2-30am Singapore time on Saturday).

The cyberattack against the big Hollywood studio led it to pull its movie depicting North Korea's leader amid threats and is the biggest hacking of a company on US soil.

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