A Sony location in Tokyo.

A Sony location in Tokyo. Credit: AP

The Obama administration says it's determined the North Korean government was behind a devastating hacking attack against Sony Pictures Entertainment.

The FBI announcement Friday is the first official statement blaming the isolated country for the cyber-attack.

In the statement, federal officials say they found similarities between the tools used in the Sony attack and previous hacks linked to North Korea.

Administration officials had previously declined to openly blame North Korea but said they were weighing various options for a response.

The break-in resulted in the disclosure of tens of thousands of leaked emails and other materials and escalated to terrorist threats that promoted Sony to cancel the Christmas release of the movie "The Interview." The comedy is about a plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. spoke with NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa about what life is like for the Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann in jail. Credit: Anthony Florio; File Footage; Photo Credit: Newsday / James Carbone, John Paraskevas; AP / David Bookstaver, Clark County Sheriff's Office, Richard Drew, Mitchell Tapper, Don Ryan; Peconic River Sportsman’s Club / Kerry Goldberg

'He will be ... coming out of prison in a body bag' Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. spoke with NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa about what life is like for the Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann in jail.

Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. spoke with NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa about what life is like for the Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann in jail. Credit: Anthony Florio; File Footage; Photo Credit: Newsday / James Carbone, John Paraskevas; AP / David Bookstaver, Clark County Sheriff's Office, Richard Drew, Mitchell Tapper, Don Ryan; Peconic River Sportsman’s Club / Kerry Goldberg

'He will be ... coming out of prison in a body bag' Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. spoke with NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa about what life is like for the Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann in jail.

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