Japan, wary of N Korea, works to secure infrastructure after Sony attack

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga speaks during an interview with Reuters in Tokyo February 15, 2014. REUTERS/Yuya Shino

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan, fearing it could be a soft target for possible North Korean cyber attacks in the escalating row over the Sony Pictures hack, has begun working to ensure basic infrastructure is safe and to formulate its diplomatic response, officials said.

The hacking of the U.S. unit of Tokyo-based Sony Corp <6758.T> has been seen in Japan largely as an American problem, but the officials said the government is now moving actively to confront the issue after President Barack Obama blamed North Korea and vowed to respond "in a place and time and manner that we choose."