DHAKA: The US has imposed new sanctions on North Korea in response to a cyber-attack against Sony Pictures Entertainment.

President Barack Obama signed an executive order on Friday allowing sanctions on three North Korean organisations and 10 individuals.

The White House said the move was a response to North Korea's "provocative, destabilising, and repressive actions".

US sanctions are already in place over North Korea's nuclear programme. The BBC.com publishes the report on Saturday.

But Friday's actions are believed to be the first time the US has moved to punish any country for cyber-attacks on a US company.

Among those named in the sanctions were:

    The Reconnaissance General Bureau, North Korea's primary intelligence organisation.

    North Korea's primary arms dealer, the Korea Mining Development Trading Corporation (Komid).

    Korea Tangun Trading Corporation, which supports North Korea's defence research.

    Jang Song Chol: Named by the US Treasury as a Komid representative in Russia and a government official.

    Kim Yong Chol: An official of the North Korean government, according to the US, and a Komid representative in Iran.

    Ryu Jin and Kang Ryong: Komid officials and members of the North Korean government who are operating in Syria, according to the US.

White House officials told reporters the move was in response to the Sony hack, but the targets of the sanctions were not directly involved.

Speaking before Christmas, President Obama said the Sony hack was "an act of cyber-vandalism"

Instead, the sanctions are designed to further isolate North Korea's defence industry as deterrent for future cyber-attacks.

The FBI and President Obama have previously said they believe North Korea was behind the cyber-attack, although some cyber-security experts have cast doubt on this.

However, a senior White House official said it was extremely rare for the US to attribute cyber-attacks, and it was only done so because of the destructive nature of the attack, and because the White House saw it as "crossing a threshold".

The BBC's Kevin Kim in Seoul says North Korea has denied any involvement in the hacking and is therefore likely to respond angrily to the latest measures.

However, he says, as there is little trade between North Korea and the US the latest measures are unlikely to have any great effect, and will simply be heavy on symbolism.

BDST: 0857 HRS, JAN 03, 2015