North Korean officials deny Sony Pictures leak

A North Korean official has denied the country's government is responsible for the recent hacking attack on the Sony Pictures database.

The movie giant's computer network was compromised at the end of November (14) and the personal details of many stars, including Angelina Jolie and Cameron Diaz, were stolen, along with recent and upcoming releases from the studio, including Brad Pitt's war drama Fury.

It was thought officials in North Korea were responsible for the incident to take revenge on the movie giant over its upcoming comedy The Interview, in which James Franco and Seth Rogen try to assassinate the country's dictator Kim Jong Un.

Government heads have publicly condemned the movie, but a spokesperson has now issued a statement denying any involvement behind the hack.

It reads, "We do not know where in America the Sony Pictures is situated and for what wrongdoings it became the target of the attack nor we feel the need to know about it... But what we clearly know is that the Sony Pictures is the very one which was going to produce a film abetting a terrorist act while hurting the dignity of the supreme leadership of the DPRK...

"The hacking into the Sony Pictures might be a righteous deed of the supporters and sympathisers with the DPRK in response to its appeal... What matters here is that the U.S. set the DPRK as the target of the investigation, far from reflecting on its wrongdoings and being shameful of being taken unawares... The U.S. should also know that there are a great number of supporters and sympathisers with the DPRK all over the world as well as the 'champions of peace' who attacked the Sony Pictures."

Hacking organization Guardians of the Peace have since taken responsibility for the leak. On Friday (05Dec14), they allegedly sent threatening messages to staff at Sony Pictures.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officers are investigating both incidents.