North Korea UN ambassador demands US prove ransomware claim

A North Korean ambassador to the United Nations says the US claim that Pyongyang was behind the Wannacry ransomware attack earlier this year is a baseless provocation.

A screenshot of the warning screen from a purported ransomware attack, as captured by a computer user. (AP)

TOKYO: A North Korean ambassador to the United Nations says the US claim that Pyongyang was behind the Wannacry ransomware attack earlier this year is a baseless provocation and demanded Washington back up its accusations with evidence.

The North's UN ambassador in charge of US-related issues says North Korea believes Washington is using the allegation to create an "extremely confrontational atmosphere." Pak Song Il told The Associated Press in a telephone interview from New York late today: "If they are so sure, show us the evidence." The WannaCry ransomware attack infected hundreds of thousands of computers worldwide and crippled parts of Britain's National Health Service in May.