Lazarus Group is the name used by MITRE, the US Treasury and the US Department of Justice for North Korean hacking units that, they say, work for the Reconnaissance General Bureau.
Lazarus Group is the name used by MITRE, the US Treasury and the US Department of Justice for North Korean hacking units that, they say, work for the Reconnaissance General Bureau. The US charged three RGB members in 2020 and 2021 with attempts to steal or extort more than $1.3 billion, and the FBI attributed the 2025 Bybit theft to North Korean actors it tracks as TraderTraitor.
Last updated 7 October 2026
Profile MapThreat Group
Attributed OriginNorth Korea
Names10names in public reportsHIDDEN COBRA · Guardians of Peace · Labyrinth Chollima
Sectors6named as targetsFinancial institutions · Cryptocurrency · Entertainment
Techniques14in the attack chainReconnaissance · Resource Development · Initial Access
Tools10tools and malware listedAppleJeus · WannaCry · TraderTraitor
In one minute
Who they are
MITRE, Treasury and DOJ attribute Lazarus Group to the North Korean RGB. DOJ named three RGB members in an indictment dated 8 December 2020 and unsealed on 17 February 2021.
Who they target
Banks, cryptocurrency firms, entertainment companies, defense contractors and energy utilities in many countries, per the DOJ indictment. Crypto exchanges, DeFi services, games and large holders per CISA and the FBI.
How they usually get in
Spearphishing, often with a fake job offer or a fake trading app, per DOJ, CISA and the FBI.
What stands out
Governments say it steals money for the North Korean state, and that it has also run destructive attacks such as the 2014 Sony Pictures attack.
What to do first
Treat job offers you did not ask for and "trading tools" as hostile. Allow only apps from the vendor's own site, turn on multifactor authentication and disable Office macros.
Names
Public reports use several names for this activity.
Names used for Lazarus Group
Name
Where it appears
HIDDEN COBRA
MITRE ATT&CK (Associated Groups); CISA AA21-048A, which uses it for North Korean malicious cyber activity[1, 9]
DOJ indictment, EU Council Implementing Regulation 2020/1125 and CISA AA22-108A name it alongside Lazarus Group[2, 11, 8]
Bluenoroff
Treasury press release of 13 Sep 2019 lists it as a separate group that worked with Lazarus Group; CISA AA22-108A lists it as another tracking name[3, 8]
Andariel
Treasury press release of 13 Sep 2019 lists it as a third RGB-controlled group[3]
TraderTraitor
FBI name for the crypto-theft activity behind Bybit, and CISA name for the malicious apps, in AA22-108A and the FBI notice of 26 Feb 2025[8, 10]
Who says so
Attribution is a judgment by the body named. It is shown here as attributed, not as proven fact.
MITRE ATT&CKpage version 5.0, modified 31 Jul 2026
Describes Lazarus Group as North Korean state-sponsored, attributed to the RGB, active since at least 2009[1]
US Treasury (OFAC)2 Jan 2015
Designated the RGB on 2 Jan 2015 after the Sony Pictures attack under Executive Order 13687[4]
US Treasury (OFAC)13 Sep 2019
Sanctioned Lazarus Group, Bluenoroff and Andariel and said all three are controlled by the RGB[3]
US Treasury (OFAC)2 Mar 2020
Sanctioned two people for laundering stolen cryptocurrency for Lazarus Group[5]
EU Council30 Jul 2020
Listed Chosun Expo for support to cyber-attacks including WannaCry; the listing links Chosun Expo to APT38 / Lazarus Group[11]
US Department of Justiceindictment dated 8 Dec 2020, unsealed 17 Feb 2021
Indictment says the three defendants were RGB members and that the conspirators included units known as Lazarus Group and APT38[2]
CISA, FBI and TreasuryApril 2021 (revision)
Assess that Lazarus Group is attributed to North Korean state-sponsored APT actors and targets individuals and companies for cryptocurrency[9]
US Treasury (OFAC)6 May 2022
Says Lazarus Group carried out the Axie Infinity theft of almost $620 million[6]
FBI, CISA, Treasury18 Apr 2022
Joint advisory on a North Korean state-sponsored group stealing from blockchain firms since at least 2020[8, 14]
US Treasury (OFAC)29 Nov 2023
Sanctioned the Sinbad mixer as a laundering tool of Lazarus Group[7]
FBI26 Feb 2025
Says North Korea was responsible for the Bybit theft of about $1.5 billion, which it tracks as TraderTraitor[10]
Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (11 states)22 Oct 2025
Joint statement on a report about DPRK cyber theft, IT workers and espionage by UN-designated entities including the RGB[13]
Where sources differ
Sources do not draw the group boundary in the same place. Treasury (13 September 2019) names Lazarus Group, Bluenoroff and Andariel as three groups controlled by the RGB and says Bluenoroff "worked jointly with" Lazarus Group on the Bangladesh Bank theft. The DOJ indictment (dated 8 December 2020) says RGB units "known within the cyber-security community as both Lazarus Group and Advanced Persistent Threat 38" were part of the conspiracy, so it treats the two names as one.
CISA's April 2022 TraderTraitor advisory lists Lazarus Group, APT38 and BlueNoroff as tracking names for one group active since at least 2020. The FBI's February 2025 notice uses the name TraderTraitor for the Bybit theft and does not use the name Lazarus Group. The WannaCry claim also differs in strength: DOJ alleges the hackers authored the ransomware for "WannaCry Version 2", while the EU Council listing is about support for the attacks and links Chosun Expo to APT38 / Lazarus Group. Treat the names as overlapping, not identical.
Who they target
Sectors
Financial institutionsDOJ lists "financial institutions" among victims and describes ATM cash-outs and the Bangladesh Bank theft.[2]
CryptocurrencyCISA lists exchanges, DeFi protocols, play-to-earn games, trading firms, venture funds and large holders.[8]
EntertainmentDOJ names Sony Pictures (attack from 24 Nov 2014) and AMC Theatres staff as spearphishing targets.[2]
DefenseDOJ lists "cleared defense contractors" among victims.[2]
EnergyDOJ lists energy utilities among victims.[2]
Online gamblingDOJ lists online casinos, including a Central American casino, as victims.[2]
Regions
United StatesDOJ says victims included the US and the Central District of California.[2]
South KoreaDOJ lists the Republic of Korea among countries of victims.[2]
Southeast and South AsiaDOJ lists Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines and Vietnam.[2]
EuropeDOJ lists Malta, Poland, Slovenia and the United Kingdom.[2]
Latin AmericaDOJ lists Mexico and Central America.[2]
Over 30 countries (crypto)CISA says AppleJeus-type targeting reached organizations in over 30 countries in one year.[9]
TürkiyeCISA, the FBI and the US Treasury list Turkey among the countries where AppleJeus malware was used against organizations since January 2020, in sectors including energy, finance, government, industry, technology and telecommunications. MITRE ATT&CK says Lazarus Group used the Bankshot implant in 2018 against the Turkish financial sector.[9, 15]
United KingdomOn 19 December 2017 the Foreign Office Minister attributed the WannaCry ransomware incident to the Lazarus Group. The release says WannaCry hit 300,000 computers in 150 countries, including 48 NHS trusts.[16]
GermanyThe advisory lists Germany among countries where AppleJeus malware was used against organizations since January 2020, in sectors including energy, finance and government. The agencies attribute Lazarus Group to North Korean state-sponsored actors.[9]
ItalyCISA, the FBI and the US Treasury list Italy among the countries where HIDDEN COBRA actors targeted organizations with AppleJeus malware since January 2020, in energy, finance, government, industry, technology and telecommunications.[9]
Saudi ArabiaThe advisory lists Saudi Arabia among countries where AppleJeus malware targeted energy, finance, government, industry, technology and telecommunications since January 2020.[9]
IndonesiaNames Indonesia in a list of nations whose financial institutions the BeagleBoyz team likely targeted from 2015 through 2020. The advisory says the team overlaps with Lazarus to varying degrees.[17]
IndiaNames India among countries targeted with AppleJeus malware since January 2020, in sectors including energy, finance and government. FBI, CISA and Treasury attribute Lazarus Group to North Korean state actors.[9]
SingaporeThe advisory lists Singapore among countries where AppleJeus malware was used against organizations since January 2020, in sectors including energy, finance and government. The agencies attribute Lazarus Group to North Korean state-sponsored actors.[9]
JapanThe NPA, FBI and DC3 said on 24 December 2024 that North Korean actors called TraderTraitor stole about 48.2 billion yen of crypto assets from the Japanese firm DMM Bitcoin in May 2024. The NPA says TraderTraitor is considered part of the Lazarus Group.[18]
TaiwanThe US Treasury said on 13 September 2019 that, according to press reports, Bluenoroff, a North Korean state-sponsored group it sanctioned with Lazarus Group, had carried out successful operations against banks in several countries including Taiwan.[3]
CanadaThe advisory lists Canada among countries where AppleJeus malware was used against organizations since January 2020, in sectors including energy, finance and government. The agencies attribute Lazarus Group to North Korean state-sponsored actors.[9]
AustraliaThe advisory lists Australia among the countries where AppleJeus malware was used against organizations since January 2020. The agencies attribute Lazarus Group to North Korean state-sponsored actors.[9]
BrazilThe advisory lists Brazil among countries where AppleJeus malware was used against organizations since January 2020, in sectors including energy, finance, government, industry, technology and telecommunications. The agencies attribute Lazarus Group to North Korean state-sponsored actors.[9]
Operations timeline
Each entry is attributed to the group by the sources cited.
2009
Earliest MITRE date
MITRE says the group has been active since at least 2009.[1]
24 Nov 2014
Sony Pictures attack
DOJ alleges the hackers started a destructive attack on Sony Pictures after threatening staff. Treasury (2019) says Lazarus Group was responsible.[2, 3]
2 Jan 2015
US designates the RGB
Treasury designated the RGB after the Sony attack.[4]
4 Feb 2016
Bangladesh Bank transfers
DOJ alleges transfers of about $81 million to the Philippines and $20 million to Sri Lanka, with about $951 million attempted.[2]
2017
WannaCry
DOJ alleges the hackers authored the ransomware used in WannaCry Version 2 on or before 12 May 2017.[2]
24 Aug 2017
Ransomware extortion
DOJ alleges ransomware was deployed on a victim company, with about $100,000 in cryptocurrency extorted.[2]
2018
Fake trading software
DOJ alleges Celas Trade Pro, a fake crypto trading program, was developed from 2018.[2]
27 Oct 2018
Pakistani bank ATM cash-out
DOJ alleges about $6.1 million was dispensed after fake ATM approvals.[2]
13 Sep 2019
Group sanctions
Treasury sanctioned Lazarus Group, Bluenoroff and Andariel.[3]
30 Jul 2020
EU lists Chosun Expo
EU Council listed Chosun Expo for support of cyber-attacks including WannaCry.[11]
8 Dec 2020
Indictment dated
A federal indictment in Los Angeles charges three RGB members; it was unsealed 17 Feb 2021.[2]
23 Mar 2022
Axie Infinity theft
Treasury says Lazarus Group stole almost $620 million.[6]
Apr 2022
TraderTraitor advisory
FBI, CISA and Treasury describe fake-job spearphishing against crypto firms.[8]
21 Feb 2025
Bybit theft
FBI says North Korea stole about $1.5 billion on or about this date.[10]
Find look-alike and newly registered domains that copy your brand, the kind of infrastructure the advisories describe behind fake trading apps and job lures.
Watch for leaked or sold company credentials that could let someone log in after a successful lure.
Questions
Who is Lazarus Group?
MITRE, Treasury and the US DOJ attribute the name to North Korean hacking units linked to the Reconnaissance General Bureau. Sources do not agree on exactly where the group boundary lies.
Are they still active?
The FBI said on 26 February 2025 that North Korea was responsible for the Bybit theft of about $1.5 billion, and 11 governments described ongoing DPRK cyber theft on 22 October 2025. The FBI used the name TraderTraitor, not Lazarus Group.
Who do they target?
The DOJ lists entertainment, finance, cryptocurrency, online casinos, defense contractors and energy utilities in many countries. CISA lists crypto exchanges, DeFi, games, trading firms and large holders.
How do they get in?
DOJ, CISA and the FBI describe spearphishing, often a recruitment lure or a trojanized trading app.
How can I tell if I am a target?
You are more exposed if you work in crypto or finance, or are an admin or developer there. Government advisories describe job offers that were not asked for, and trading tools, sent on chat platforms (CISA describes messages that mimic a recruitment effort).
What should I do first?
Train staff on fake job offers, enforce multifactor authentication, allow only apps from vendor sites and disable Office macros, as CISA advises. If hit, contact the FBI or CISA.
Attributed by the US, UK and South Korean governments to North Korea's Reconnaissance General Bureau, Andariel is described in a July 2024 joint advisory as stealing defense, aerospace and nuclear secrets and funding that work with ransomware against US healthcare. MITRE ATT&CK describes it as a sub-set of Lazarus Group; the advisory does not use that term.
Attributed by the US, UK and South Korean governments, and MITRE ATT&CK
APT-C-60 is the name JPCERT/CC uses for a threat group it says likely carried out spear-phishing attacks on organizations in Japan from August 2024, using fake job-applicant emails and a backdoor called SpyGlace. No government or MITRE source opened for this page says who is behind it.
Also known as Comment Crew · Comment Panda · Comment Group
Attributed by MITRE ATT&CK to PLA Unit 61398 in China, APT1 is the subject of a US indictment of 19 May 2014 charging five Unit 61398 officers with hacking six US organizations. The Department of Justice alleges the aim was commercial gain for China's state-owned firms.
Attributed by the US Department of Justice (indictment of 19 May 2014) and MITRE ATT&CK
APT38 (Bluenoroff, BeagleBoyz) is a North Korean financial hacking group attributed to the RGB. SWIFT bank attacks, crypto theft and the Lazarus overlap.
Explore 2025 nation-state cyber threats. Learn how APT groups like Mustang Panda, Sandworm, OilRig and Lazarus operate, and how to prepare your defenses.
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