By Alex Jensen
SEOUL
North Korea has launched a verbal tirade against U.S. President Barack Obama, holding him responsible for both its own recent Internet difficulties and the Christmas Day release of a Hollywood movie featuring a plot to kill the North’s leader Kim Jong-un.
Pyongyang’s official KCNA news outlet carried a National Defense Commission statement Saturday describing Obama as being “reckless in words and deeds like a monkey in a tropical forest."
While it is not the first time that North Korea has subjected Obama to abuse with racial connotations, tensions between Pyongyang and Washington have escalated this month amid claims of cyber attacks from both sides.
The U.S. president criticized Sony Pictures for cancelling plans to distribute “The Interview” on Christmas Day after the company suffered a major hacking -- Obama also warned North Korea of a “proportional” response as the FBI last week blamed Pyongyang for the attack.
The North maintained its innocence Saturday, and repeated a previous offer to hold a joint investigation with Washington.
But the NDC statement went further by turning the tables, accusing the U.S. of “groundlessly” seeking revenge.
Several websites linked to Pyongyang -- including those based in China and Japan -- continued to be disrupted this weekend after major outages at the start of the week.
The North appeared to be appeal for sympathy, with the NDC asking: “What if somebody made a movie about terror attacks or encouraging the assassination of Obama? Will he welcome the freedom of expression?"
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