Lazarus, The Lab Where North Korea Creates Cyber Soldiers

While tensions of warfare continue to rise around the world, the threat of cyberattacks and cyber warfare is no different. Few names worry cybersecurity experts as much as the Lazarus Group. This skilled hacking group is believed to be supported by the North Korean government. They have been behind some of the largest and most audacious cyberattacks on global financial systems.

They have started focusing more on cryptocurrency, taking advantage of how open and unregulated the digital asset world can be.

From breaking into crypto exchanges to tricking blockchain developers with fake emails and websites, Lazarus is known for using smart hacking tools and social tricks to steal huge amounts of crypto. The U.S. Treasury and top cybersecurity companies say the group has stolen billions of dollars in digital money. Rumors are rife that this money is being used to support North Korea’s illegal weapons programs.

As governments and crypto companies work hard to fix security issues and stop future attacks, Lazarus keeps changing its tactics and staying ahead. In this report, we’ll explain who the Lazarus Group is, how they target the crypto world, and why they remain a serious threat to digital finance.

Who Is the Lazarus Group?

The group in question has been active since 2009, though their name didn’t become widespread until 2014 when they launched a big cyberattack on Sony Pictures that caused a lot of problems and attracted a lot of media coverage. After that, they participated in various serious online attacks, among which were money theft from banks and cryptocurrency firms.

This group is not made up of regular hackers. They are very skilled and organized. They use smart tools and tricks to break into computer systems. Sometimes they send fake job offers or create fake websites to fool people into clicking dangerous links or downloading harmful software.

According to specialists, the Lazarus group takes funds out of the banking system to support North Korea; mainly, as the country is subjected to very strict international sanctions, their hacking is not only for money, but it is also a means for the North Korean regime to evade the world rules and finance its military programs.

How Does the Lazarus Group Target the Crypto World?

The Lazarus Group doesn’t just steal crypto, they plan their attacks like high-level heists in a movie. One of their most shocking hits was the Axie Infinity hack in 2022, where they stole over $600 million in cryptocurrency by breaking into the Ronin blockchain network. It was one of the biggest crypto thefts in history.

But what made it more shocking was how they did it. They didn’t just use code, they used human psychology. A developer for Axie Infinity’s parent company got what seemed to be a job offer from a fictitious firm. He read a PDF including the job information but he was unaware that this document was packed with concealed malware. This trivial deed enabled the cybercriminals to gain unrestricted access to the whole system, and they even transferred hundreds of millions of dollars without anyone being aware of it until it was too late.

Moreover, the Lazarus group has been employing sophisticated methods such as made-to-order malware and fake cryptocurrency wallet apps and even creating counterfeit accounts on LinkedIn and Telegram to trick crypto workers and investors. They not only invade the systems but also deceive people to allow them through the back door. Their thoroughness, tenacity, and use of advanced technology set them apart as one of the world’s most menacing groups in the crypto domain.

How Can North Korean Hackers Be So Advanced?

The question that is the most common is about the skills of North Korean hackers. It is true that North Korea is the least connected country, where most people do not have internet access. Still, how come they are capable of performing high-level cyberattacks?

The secret is in the exclusive group of top-notch hackers. They are selected among the best as kids, adult-trained in math and computer science, then sent to countries like China, Russia, and Southeast Asia, where they can go online, and so forth attacks. Even though the hackers are North Korean, they don’t always operate inside North Korea.

Many reports say that North Korea starts training its top hackers from a very young age. Talented children in math and science, which can be seen at the age of 7 or 8, are sometimes picked to enroll in schools especially designed for learning computers and programming. Consequently, they will very likely take up the first-rate universities such as Kim Il-sung University or Kim Chaek University where they will study for 5 years in advanced computer technology and hacking. This early and rigorous education not only gets them ready for North Korea’s cyber units but also molds them into proficient digital agents who can effectively conduct cyberattacks globally.

The operations they run are often managed like a military mission, with clear goals: steal money, avoid sanctions, and bring in hard currency to support the government. Cybercrime has become one of North Korea’s biggest income sources. So while the country stays isolated on the outside, behind the scenes, it’s training some of the world’s most dangerous cybercriminals.

What Makes Lazarus Group Outshine Their Mentors?

The Lazarus Group didn’t start from scratch. Experts believe they learned many of their early skills from more experienced hacker networks. But over time, they’ve gone even further, outsmarting and outscaling the very people who may have taught them.

The fact that Lazarus group is willing to take huge risks is what sets them apart. Now most hackers would want to stay out of the spotlight, but these hacker don’t mind going after big crypto targets, even if that puts the highlight directly on them. The $600 million they stole from Axie Infinity shocked the whole crypto world and showed how far they are willing to go.

They also go beyond normal hacking. Lazarus plays the long game. They spend weeks or months building fake companies, designing job offers, or setting up fake wallet apps. Then they wait patiently for one mistake. It’s not just technical skill, it’s psychological warfare.

History of Heists

The hacking unit has been responsible for some of the most audacious cyber heists ever committed. Analysts say that more than $3 billion have been siphoned off, primarily in cryptocurrencies. Below you can find some of their most astonishing and daring hacks:

Axie Infinity Hack (2022)

Lazarus made off with $620 million from the Ronin Network, which is the blockchain that underpins the popular game Axie Infinity, in what can be classified as one of the largest thefts in the cryptocurrency universe. A developer was lured using a fake job offer and tasked with opening the malware-laden file.

Horizon Bridge Hack (2022)

Lazarus was able to take $100 million from Harmony’s Horizon Bridge, a facility that links different blockchains. The attackers enrolled in creating phony identities and used phishing tactics to gain access to the private keys that controlled the assets.

WannaCry Ransomware (2017)

The operating group of Lazarus has been suggested as being responsible for projecting the global WannaCry ransomware attack, which encrypted computer systems in more than 150 countries and demanded ransom paid in Bitcoin. Although the group only reaped small gains, it was nevertheless a massive incident causing $4 billion in losses globally.

Bangladesh Bank Heist (2016)

Lazarus tried to steal $1 billion from the central bank of Bangladesh by hacking into the SWIFT banking system. They succeeded in taking $81 million before a typo in one of their requests raised suspicion and stopped the rest.

Sony Pictures Hack (2014)

This attack wasn’t about money but caused massive damage. Lazarus leaked thousands of private emails and files from Sony Pictures as revenge for a film mocking North Korea’s leader. It cost Sony millions and made Lazarus known worldwide.

By combining fearless planning, smart tools, and a government-backed mission, Lazarus has moved past many of the original cybercrime groups. They’ve taken the craft of hacking and turned it into a global strategy for survival.

It’s not random how someone becomes a Lazarus hacker; it’s a step-by-step process that starts early. It starts when a North Korean child does well in math or science. That child is picked to go to a special school that teaches computers. From there, they go to the best colleges for five years of hard work learning how to code and fight in cyberspace. After they graduate, a lot of them go abroad to get real-world experience. Over time, they become very good at cybercrime, learning how to hack and trick people with fake job offers and websites.

This isn’t just hacking; it’s a national mission that’s been planned and carried out like a military operation. And as these digital soldiers get smarter and braver, one big question remains: Can the rules we have now, or the ones that are still being made, really stop them?