North Korea vows to retaliate over ’reckless’ US ransomware accusation

North Korea has said a US accusation that it was behind a major ransomware attack was a "grave political provocation" and vowed to retaliate.

North Korea vows to retaliate over ’reckless’ US ransomware accusation

North Korea has said a US accusation that it was behind a major ransomware attack was a "grave political provocation" and vowed to retaliate.

Homeland security adviser Tom Bossert wrote in the Wall Street Journal on Monday that North Korea will be held accountable for May’s WannaCry ransomware attack that infected hundreds of thousands of computers worldwide and crippled parts of the UK’s NHS.

In remarks carried by state media, the North’s Foreign Ministry repeated it had nothing to do with the attack. It said it will never tolerate such "reckless" US claims but did not say how it would respond.

"The Trump administration is inciting an extremely confrontational atmosphere by even concocting a plot against us at this delicate moment when the situation on the Korean peninsula is at the crossroads of nuclear war or peace," a ministry spokesman said.

It is not unusual for Pyongyang to issue harsh rhetoric against Washington and South Korea. Thursday’s warning came amid heightened tensions following the North’s test-launch of its most powerful missile last month.

South Korean and US officials have accused the North of launching a slew of cyberattacks in recent years.

Among them is a US accusation that it hacked Sony Pictures Entertainment over The Interview, a satirical movie about a plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The North has denied those accusations.

Mr Bossert said the US administration’s finding of responsibility is based on evidence and confirmed by other governments and private companies, including the UK and Microsoft.

PA

more courts articles

Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman

More in this section

Russia arrests another suspect in concert hall attack that killed 143 Russia arrests another suspect in concert hall attack that killed 143
Andrew Flintoff File Photos Andrew Flintoff’s BBC return confirmed following Top Gear crash
Glastonbury Festival 2007 - Worthy Farm - Pilton, Somerset Song lyrics have become angrier since the 80s, study shows
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited