Obama: Go to the movies

President Obama on Wednesday said he did not believe Americans needed to be concerned by threats issued to movie theaters, even as Sony Pictures made the decision to pull its controversial comedy “The Interview” amid threats of terrorism.

“For now, my recommendation would be: Go to the movies,” Obama said Wednesday in an interview with ABC News.

{mosads}The president said his administration was taking very seriously the cyberattack against the movie studio, which unleashed a trove of internal emails and documents, and pledged a thorough federal investigation into the breach. On Wednesday, multiple media outlets citing U.S. intelligence officials reported that North Korea had played a central role in the attack.

Pyongyang appeared to launch the attack in retaliation for the James Franco and Seth Rogen-led comedy, which is based on a fictitious plot to assassinate North Korean ruler Kim Jong-un.

A message purportedly from the hackers threatening a Sept. 11-style attack on those who planned to see the movie caused theater chains across the nation to cancel their screenings. Later Wednesday, Sony announced it was canceling its Christmas Day release of the movie.

“We respect and understand our partners’ decision and, of course, completely share their paramount interest in the safety of employees and theater-goers,” Sony said in a statement.