MOSCOW (AP) — Russia has offered sympathy to North Korea amid the Sony hacking scandal, saying the movie that sparked the dispute was so scandalous that Pyongyang's anger was "quite understandable."

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich told Thursday's briefing that Washington failed to offer any proof to back its claims of Pyongyang's involvement in the hacking, adding the U.S. threats of retaliation were "counterproductive and dangerous."

The U.S. has blamed Pyongyang for the recent cyberattack on Sony Pictures, which produced "The Interview," a comedy depicting the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Pyongyang has denied a role in the hacking, but also praised it as a "righteous deed."

Sony initially decided not to release the film because of threats against U.S. cinemas, but released the movie online Wednesday.