North Korea Makes New Threat Against US Over Sony Hack Investigation; How Should the US Respond?

North Korea looks like they want to take a page out of the playbook they used for the sinking of the Cheonan where everyone knew they did it, but by continuing to deny it it allows their allies like Russia and China to help cover for them to prevent any real consequences for the attack:

North Korea said U.S. accusations that it was involved in a cyberattack on Sony Pictures were “groundless slander” and that it was wanted a joint investigation into the incident with the United States.

An unnamed spokesman of the North’s foreign ministry said there would be “grave consequences” if Washington refused to agree to the joint probe and continued to accuse Pyongyang, the official KCNA news agency reported on Saturday.

On Friday, President Barack Obama blamed North Korea for the devastating cyberattack, which led to the Hollywood studio cancelling “The Interview”, a comedy on the fictional assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

In its first substantive response to the accusation, the isolated North Korea said it could prove it had nothing to do with the massive hacking attack.

“We propose to conduct a joint investigation with the U.S. in response to groundless slander being perpetrated by the U.S. by mobilizing public opinion,” the North Korean spokesman said.

“If the U.S. refuses to accept our proposal for a joint investigation and continues to talk about some kind of response by dragging us into the case, it must remember there will be grave consequences,” the spokesman said.  [Reuters]

You can read more at the link, but North Korea is back making threats against the US again.  It will be interesting to see what the US response will be, but I do not see this as an act of war as some people are claiming.  Why should poor network security by a company be a reason to draw the US into a war?  This is a crime not an act of war.  Pushing for further members of the Kim regime to be tried at the International Criminal Court would be one way to respond.  It is highly symbolic, but it would be highly embarrassing for the Kim regime just like the past referral of North Korea for human rights violations was.  Putting North Korea back on the State Sponsors of Terrorism List, a list they never should have been taken off of in the first place, would be another way to respond.  Finally as One Free Korea points out taking financial action against the regime could be the most effective way to really get the attention of the Kim regime to act as a deterrent against such a cyberattack in the future.