North Korea and the U.S. Clash Over Sony Pictures Cyberattack

In December 2014, a major cyberattack on Sony Pictures Entertainment sparked a diplomatic and security crisis between North Korea and the United States. The attack, attributed to North Korean hackers, was in retaliation for the release of the Hollywood film "The Interview", a satirical comedy that mocked North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and depicted a fictional plot to assassinate him. The hacking group “Guardians of Peace”, widely believed to be linked to Pyongyang, leaked confidential Sony emails, destroyed company data, and threatened terrorist attacks on cinemas that screened the film. In response, major theater chains canceled showings, and Sony temporarily pulled the film before later releasing it on digital platforms. The U.S. government accused North Korea of orchestrating the cyberattack, leading President Barack Obama to impose new sanctions on North Korean individuals and entities in January 2015. North Korea denied involvement but praised the attack, escalating tensions between the two nations. This event marked one of the first major state-sponsored cyberattacks against a U.S. company and highlighted North Korea’s growing cyber warfare capabilities, which would continue to be a global security concern.