AP source: US probe links North Korea to Sony hacking

WASHINGTON — A U.S. official says federal investigators have now connected the Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. hacking to North Korea and may make a statement in the near future.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to openly discuss an ongoing criminal case.

Until Wednesday, the Obama administration had been saying it was not immediately clear who might have been responsible for the computer break-in. North Korea has publicly denied it was involved.

The unidentified hackers had demanded that Sony cancel its upcoming release of the movie “The Interview,” a comedy that included a gruesome scene depicting the assassination of North Korea’s leader.

Sony on Wednesday canceled the Dec. 25 release under the threat of terrorist attacks from hackers.