US impose sanctions against North Korea over Sony attack

Sanctions targets 3 entities, denies them access to US financial system

US President Barack Obama signed an executive order, imposing new sanctions against the government of North Korea in response to what he called Pyongyang's "numerous provocations," particularly the cyber attack on Sony Pictures Entertainment.

The sanctions targeted three entities - Reconnaissance General Bureau, Korea Mining Development Trading Corporation and Korea Tangun Trading Corporation, as well as ten individuals who work for the aforementioned entities, denying them access to the US financial system and banning them doing transactions with US citizens according to the US Treasury Department, Xinhua reported.

The actions "will further isolate key North Korean entities and disrupt the activities of close to a dozen critical North Korean operatives," US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said in a statement issued Friday.

"As the President has said, our response to North Korea's attack against Sony Pictures Entertainment will be proportional, and will take place at a time and in a manner of our choosing. Today's actions are the first aspect of our response," the White House said.

The US has accused Pyongyang of hacking Sony Pictures Entertainment over a comedy film 'The Interview' that depicts an assassination attempt on North Korea leader Kim Jong Un. But North Korea has denied involvement, saying such claims were "a wild rumour".