WASHINGTON — Last month, Sony Pictures Entertainment's computer system came under attack. Using computer code, intruders got inside the movie studio's computer system and caused a lot of damage. Such computer attackers are called hackers. When they attack computers it is known as a cyber attack.

Question

The unknown hackers demanded that Sony not release its film "The Interview." They also issued a threat: If the film was released, movie theaters that showed it would be destroyed.

"The Interview" was already attracting attention before the cyber attack. North Korea has strongly objected to the film, which involves the make-believe assassination of its leader, Kim Jong-un. What question might this article answer about global interdependence? Support your answer with information from the article.

Answer 1

The article may answer the question: "How can cyber attacks impact international relations and global security?"

This is supported by the information that the hackers targeted Sony Pictures Entertainment to prevent the release of a film that North Korea strongly opposed, which depicts a fictional assassination of its leader. The incident demonstrates how a single film can provoke significant geopolitical tensions, leading to threats of violence and highlighting the vulnerabilities in a highly interconnected digital landscape. The involvement of international actors, such as North Korea making threats over a movie, illustrates how global interdependence can manifest in unexpected and potentially dangerous ways, as cultural products can influence diplomatic relations and national security.