White House Sanctions North Korea For Sony Email Hacks Following Release Of James Franco & Seth Rogen Movie 'The Interview'

The White House and US president Barack Obama have leveled sanctions against North Korea following the Sony email hacking scandal just as the movie allegedly behind the attack, James Franco and Seth Rogen's The Interview, set records with its online video-on-demand opening. After President Obama criticized Sony for pulling The Interview's release after threats from the 'Guardians of Peace' hackers for theaters showing the movie — Sony relented and the movie is now showing in theaters that wish to show it. The hackers also released Sony emails that released information regarding celebrities including Angelina Jolie, George Clooney and more.

In the executive order, as ABC News report, President Obama calls North Korea "continuing threat to the national security, foreign policy and economy of the United States," after he email hacks, which were referred to as "destructive, coercive cyber-related actions during November and December."

CNN report that the FBI "has maintained North Korea was behind the broad computer breach at Sony."

As EW.com reports, "The new sanctions prohibit three North Korean agencies and 10 individuals from accessing U.S. financial institutions." They added that "additional organizations and North Korean individuals," could possibly face sanctions.

In a statement, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said: "The E.O. authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to impose sanctions on individuals and entities associated with the Government of North Korea."

The statement continued: "We take seriously North Korea's attack that aimed to create destructive financial effects on a U.S. company and to threaten artists and other individuals with the goal of restricting their right to free expression."

"As the President has said," the statement continued, "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," the statement said. "Today's actions are the first aspect of our response."

CELEBRATING!!!!! "The Interview" starring Seth Rogen and James Flacco saved by President Obacco! I MEAN PRESIDENT OBAMA!!!!! Sorry!!!

A photo posted by James Franco (@jamesfrancotv) on Dec 12, 2014 at 10:31am PST

CNN say that seven of the targets are "officials who represent North Korea's arms dealing trade in Africa, Iran, Russia and Syria were designated by the U.S. Treasury as subject to the new economic sanctions."

As ABC report, President Obama wrote a letter to House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to say that the sanctions are not "targeted at the people of North Korea", rather they are "aimed at the Government of North Korea and its activities that threaten the United States and others."

You can check out the final uncensored red band trailer of The Interview below.