White House views Sony Pictures hack attack as 'security issue'

The cyber attack on Sony Pictures that led to the cancellation of the release of "The Interview," a movie based on Kim Jong-un, is being seen as a "security issue," the United States said.

A White House spokesman said that the U.S. believes that the cyber attack was the work of "a sophisticated actor" but refused to confirm if North Korea was responsible, reported the BBC.

Sony cancelled the December 25 release of "The Interview" after hackers threatened to conduct a "9/11-style" attack on theatres screening it.

The movie shows Seth Rogen and James Franco playing two reporters who are granted an audience with Jong-un and are then enlisted by the Central Investigative Agency (CIA) to assassinate him.