This is 'Monkey Business'!

SINCE 1926, at least three films, one TV series, one musical, one band, one album and about half a dozen songs, including one by Michael Jackson, were named Monkey Business. Now we are watching a live comedy which some may call 'Monkey Business!' It casts President Barack Obama and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un as the main characters, though acting in the background!

The show unfolded with the release of a comedy, The Interview, made by Sony Pictures Entertainment. It shows a fictional attempt to assassinate Kim. This infuriated North Korea. A cyber attack soon knocked out thousands of Sony's computers. The hackers threatened US cinema chains not to show the comedy. They obliged. An FBI investigation revealed North Korea's involvement in the hacking. North Korea denied the allegations. Obama vowed to respond. North Korea threatened to attack US landmarks after claiming that the US government had been behind the controversial movie.

The internet in North Korea was disrupted. Sony released the comedy for public view during Christmas. North Korea called President Barack Obama “a monkey” and blamed the US for shutting down its internet. Washington denied the allegations. It may be mentioned that North Korea often uses undiplomatic language against US leaders. Earlier this year, they called US Secretary of State John Kerry a wolf. In May, their news agency published a dispatch saying Obama has the “shape of a monkey.” Washington condemned the comments as “ugly and disrespectful.”

The movie thus turned into a live comedy! How will it end? This is anybody's guess but some US cyber security experts gave some interesting clues. They suggest that the findings of the FBI accusing North Korea for the hacking of Sony's computers could be flawed. According to them, the arguments put forward by the FBI in support of their claim are not conclusive. It is also suspected that a Sony insider might have helped the hackers.

North Korea is yet to react to this new revelation but this must be what they have been waiting for. Nobody should be surprised if they say: “Aha! Now it is crystal clear. Knowing that nobody would watch this stupid film, Sony's CEO Michael Lynton staged a drama in collusion with his friend Barack Obama. This is nothing but a publicity stunt. How else could this filthy comedy become the number one online movie ever released and make $15 million in just four days? Obama saved Michael from bankruptcy. Surely, a grateful Michael will reciprocate. Will he make a fat contribution to his friend's party fund? This will be the finale of the 'Monkey Business' comedy! Ha ha ha!”   

The writer is a former chief engineer of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission.