CRI听力:Obama Orders New Sanctions on North Korea

President Obama who is on holiday in Hawaii signed an executive order Friday to impose new sanctions against North Korea.

The new sanctions are part of U.S. reaction to Pyongyang's suspected role in cyber-attacks on Sony Pictures Entertainment and threats against the U.S. movie industry.

Under the new order, the Treasury Department will impose financial measures on three government entities and ten officials, even though there is no evidence that the ten individuals had ordered or planned the cyber-attacks.

Analysts say the move is more symbolic than substantive since North Korea is already one of the heaviest sanctioned countries in the world.

Pyongyang has repeatedly denied the accusation and offered joint investigation with the U.S. into the cyber-attacks. However, Washington turned down the suggestion.

For CRI, I'm Xiao Hong.