The United States withheld comment Sunday on a slur that North Korea made against President Barack Obama in anger over the release of the Sony Pictures comedy about a plot to kill North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
  
Pyongyang's powerful National Defense Commission issued a statement Saturday rejecting U.S. accusations that the communist nation was behind a hacking attack on Sony and accusing Obama of forcing Sony to reverse its decision not to release the movie, "The Interview."
  
It also hurled a personal slur, saying Obama acts "like a monkey in a tropical forest."
   
On Sunday, both the State Department and the White House declined to react to the slur.
   
But a State Department official said the U.S. government stands by the FBI's finding that the North is responsible for the hack on Sony.
   
"As the FBI made clear, we are confident the North Korean government is responsible for this destructive attack. We stand by this conclusion," the official said on condition of anonymity. "The government of North Korea has a long history of denying responsibility for destructive and provocative actions."
   
North Korea has a track record of such personal attacks on U.S.
and South Korean officials. 
   
In May, the North also called Obama a "wicked black monkey" and a "monkey in Africa," slamming his remarks that the U.S. wouldn't hesitate to use military force if the South is attacked and the North cannot guarantee its security even if it develops nuclear weapons.
   
In August, Pyongyang also said U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry looks like a "wolf in sheep's clothing," blasting the top American diplomat for criticizing the regime for its nuclear weapons drive and human rights abuses.
   
After Obama denounced Sony's earlier decision not to release "The Interview" a "mistake," Sony made the movie available online via Youtube, Google Play and Xbox Video on Wednesday, one day before releasing it at more than 300 independent theaters on Christmas Day. 
   
The film grossed more than US$1 million at the box office on its opening day, according to reports.
   
On Sunday, Apple joined the three online platforms in showing the movie at its iTunes Store. 
   
"We're pleased to offer 'The Interview' for rental or purchase on the iTunes Store," Apple spokesman Tom Neumayr said in a statement. The statement did not explain why the company didn't offer the movie Wednesday, along with other online stores. (Yonhap)