韩国对平壤被控组织黑客攻击暂表沉默

South Korea said Friday it is withholding judgment on whether Pyongyang was behind the Sony Pictures hacking incident that analysts say threatens the financial viability of the movie industry.

Lim Byeong-cheol, South Korean Ministry spokesman said: "It is not proper for our government to confirm whether North Korea was behind the Sony Pictures' hacking incident. Regarding Sony Pictures' decision to cancel the screening and release of the film 'The Interview', our understanding is that it was the company's own judgment."

On the streets of Seoul, people are speaking out about the cancelled release of the film about a fictional plot to kill the Korean leader Kim John Un.

Jeon Yeon-su, a Seoul resident, said: "First, I think it was a good decision not to release 'The Interview' because it is the best way to prevent terror, or North Korea's threats. However when it comes to the freedom of expression, another resolution should be considered"

"I think it is a bit unfortunate that the film release has been delayed as, in a sense, releasing the film itself could arouse citizens' attention," she added

The White House is treating a cyber attack on Sony Pictures as a "serious national security matter, but there has been no direct condemnation of North Korea for its alleged role in the hacking incident.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said: “This is something that's being treated as a serious national security matter. There is evidence to indicate that we have seen destructive activity with malicious intent that was initiated by a sophisticated actor.'' 

The White House spokesman added that President Barack Obama's National Security Council is considering a proportionate response to the cyber attack.

Sony cancelled the December 25 release of "The Interview," after some major theater chains chose not to show it, after a hacker group calling itself Guardians of Peace threatened to harm anyone showing or attending the film.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says "there is no credible intelligence to indicate an active plot against movie theaters."  President Obama also downplayed the threat, saying his "recommendation would be that people go to the movies."