U.S. Congressman Admits That The U.S. Took Down North Korea's Internet In Response To Their Cyber Attack Against SONY

Kim Jong Un inspects "new" military technology made by unit 1501 of the Korean People's Army in this 2013 photo. KCNA

Bloomberg: North Korea Web Outage Response to Sony Hack, Lawmaker Says

Representative Michael McCaul becomes the first U.S. official to publicly say the Web outage was retaliation.

A December blackout of North Korea’s Internet was retaliation for that nation’s hacking of computers at Sony Corp.’s Hollywood studio, a top U.S. lawmaker on cybersecurity issues said without identifying who was responsible.

Representative Michael McCaul of Texas, Republican chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, on Tuesday became the first U.S. official to link the outage as reprisal for disrupting computers at Sony Pictures Entertainment.

“There were some cyber responses to North Korea,” McCaul said earlier in his public remarks at the event hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank.

WNU Editor: The man who made this remark is Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), and he is the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. That is why his remarks are important .... he of all people would know if the U.S. was responsible for taking down North Korea's internet.

More News On A U.S. Official Admitting That The U.S. Was Responsible For Taking Down North Korea's Internet

Lawmaker claims North Korea internet blackout was ‘response’ to Sony hack -- RT
US Official Confirms North Korea Internet Blackout was Payback for Sony Hack -- Sputnik
North Korea web blackout 'revenge for Sony hack' -- Stuff.co.nz
Did a Congressman just acknowledge the US took down North Korea's internet in December? -- Max Fisher, VOX

North Korea Warns The U.S. That They Will Launch A Pre-Emptive Strike 'If Necessary'

North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Su Yong (R) arrives with North Korea's ambassador to the United Nations So Se Pyong for his address to the Conference on Disarmament at the U.N. in Geneva March 3, 2015. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

Reuters: North Korea warns U.S. about pre-emptive strike 'if necessary'

(Reuters) - North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Su Yong said on Tuesday that his country had the power to deter an "ever-increasing nuclear threat" by the United States with a pre-emptive strike if necessary.

His rare speech at the U.N.-backed Conference on Disarmament drew a rebuke from U.S. Ambassador Robert Wood, who urged Pyongyang to stop making threats and rid itself of nuclear weapons.

Ri said joint military exercises currently being staged by South Korea and the United States were "unprecedentedly provocative in nature and have an especially high possibility of sparking off a war."

WNU Editor: Just a small reminder on how dangerous North Korea is.

More News On North Korean Warnings To The U.S. That They Will Launch A Pre-Emptive Strike 'If Necessary'

N. Korea: Joint Drills Could Spark War -- VOA
North Korean envoy: Regime can launch preemptive strikes -- UPI
North Korea says it could make "pre-emptive strike" on US -- Deutsche Welle
North Korea Warns Can Conduct 'Strike' on US, Denies Rights Violations -- Defense News/AFP
Kim Jong Un reportedly tells North Korean army to 'prepare for war' with US -- FOX News

North Korea Wants Talks But The U.S. Wants To Impose More Sanctions

Bloomberg: U.S. to Expand Sanctions on N. Korea Finances, Officials Say

WNU Editor: As I have said more than once in the past .... talks with North Korea is just a waste of time.

More News On U.S. - North Korean Relations

U.S. takes aim at North Korea's remaining financial links -- Reuters
U.S. vows to cut N. Korea off from international financial system -- Yonhap News Agency
The push to target North Korea's financial allies -- CNBC
North Korea Sanctions: US Needs To Target Financial Backers, Lawmakers Say -- IBTimes

N. Korea offers to meet U.S. on rejected nuclear test proposal -- Reuters
U.S. Says Situation With North Korea Becoming More Complicated -- AFP
North Korea Again Urges US to Suspend Military Exercises -- NYT/AP
N. Korean diplomat urges U.S. to accept proposal calling for ending military drills -- Yonhap News Agency

North Korea wants US evidence of its role in Sony hacking -- UT San Diego/AP
The Convoluted Trail Linking North Korea to Sony -- Tech News World

Update: U.S. Says Situation With North Korea Becoming More Complicated -- WSJ

President Obama has Issued An Executive Order Slapping North Korea With New Sanctions Over Their Cyber Attack On Sony

Reuters: U.S. slaps more sanctions on North Korea after Sony hack

WNU Editor: But did North Korea launch a cyber attack against SONY? Some experts have doubts .... New Study May Add to Skepticism Among Security Experts That North Korea Was Behind Sony Hack (NYT).

More News On The U.S. Imposing Sanctions On North Korea Over Their Cyber Attack On SONY

In Response to Sony Attack, U.S. Levies Sanctions on 10 North Koreans -- New York Times
U.S. imposes sanctions on N. Korea following attack on Sony -- Washington Post
Sony cyber-attack: North Korea faces new US sanctions -- BBC
U.S. Slaps New Sanctions on North Korea for Sony Hack and Vows Further Steps -- Bloomberg Businessweek
U.S. slaps new sanctions on North Korea after Sony hack -- CNN
Obama administration imposes sanctions on North Korea, after Sony hack -- FOX News
Obama issues executive order slapping North Korea with new sanctions over 'destructive, coercive' cyber attack on Sony -- Daily Mail
Obama Increases Sanctions Against North Korea After Sony Hack -- US News and World Report
US Sanctions on N Korea Target About Dozen Individuals and Entities -- Sputnik

North Korea Threatens To Launch A Nuclear Strike Against The White House And Pentagon

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspects the tactical rocket firing drill of the units of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) Strategic Force on July 10, 2014. Press TV

North Korea Threatens Nuclear Strike On White House And Pentagon -- NDTV/AFP

Seoul: A top-ranking North Korean military official has threatened a nuclear strike on the White House and Pentagon after accusing Washington of raising military tensions on the Korean peninsula.

The threat came from Hwang Pyong-So, director of the military's General Political Bureau, during a speech to a large military rally in Pyongyang on Sunday on the anniversary of the armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War.

Hwang, who holds the rank of vice marshal in the Korean People's Army, said a recent series of South Korea-US military drills, one of which included the deployment of a nuclear-powered US aircraft carrier, had ramped up tensions.

Read more ....

More News On North Korea Threatening To Launch A Nuclear Strike Against The White House And Pentagon

Report: North Korea threatens nuclear strike on White House -- The Hill
N. Korean Official Threatens White House Nuclear Strike -- VOA
North Korea threatens nuclear strike against White House, Pentagon -- al.com
If threatened, we’ll nuke US directly: North Korea -- Press TV
Did North Korea Really Just Threaten To Nuke These Two Government Buildings? -- Western Journalism