This is an article reporting on government officials' claims that the attack comes from NK. The credentials of the reporters (especially their "tech journalist" credentials) hardly matter. The NYTimes isn't endorsing this position, it's just reporting that government officials say it, and it'd be pretty stupid of the NYTimes to just make it up. I don't understand why you suspect a conspiracy, especially based on such little info.
With regard to point 2, remember that this is the country that built a nuclear weapon and launched an object into orbit (with some dramatic difficulties on the way). If the NK government wants to get something done, especially something militaristically, they do it.
With regard to point 2, remember that this is the country that built a nuclear weapon and launched an object into orbit (with some dramatic difficulties on the way). If the NK government wants to get something done, especially something militaristically, they do it.