North Korea wants joint probe with US into the Sony hack issue

When I first saw the story of the USA blaming  North Korea for hacking into Sony because of the movie "The Interview" which is supposedly a fictional story about the  assassination of the present head of that nation, I thought that supporters and sympathizers of Kim Jong-un were behind the hack and that is exactly what the North Korean govt. claims has probably happened. 

BTW, I wouldn't be surprised if some of the investors in the movie are the culprits themselves.  
Just look at the publicity the issue has garnered now which it would NEVER have had if not for the hacking story. When we see "Sony release" of a movie, we tend to think it's all fully corporate money ... but it's seldom that way. When the movie is released.... and I am sure it will be, after we the sheeple are given some more story-telling.... chances are Sony will make a bundle which means those who were part of that  venture will make money or at least not suffer a loss as we are made to believe at this moment in time. Moreover, don't forget that movie productions are all covered by insurance. 

Jak Kim and Steve Holland writing at Reuters:
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.......

Martin Fackler writing at NYTimes:
North Korea Warns U.S.    Not to Take Sony Action
Warning of “serious consequences” if the United States retaliates against it over the damaging cyberattack on Sony Pictures, North Korea on Saturday insisted that it was not behind it, and it offered to prove its innocence by taking part in a joint investigation with Washington to identify the hackers......

........The cyberattack and emailed threats of attacks against movie theaters prompted Sony to cancel the Christmas release of “The Interview,” a comedy about a plan to assassinate the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un. North Korea has previously denied responsibility for the hacking, though it called the attacks a “righteous deed” by its “supporters and sympathizers.”.....