In September 2020, KuCoin, a Singapore based cryptocurrency exchange was hacked for around $285 million of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Exchanges which hold large amounts of cryptocurrency are a constant target for hackers.  Lazarus Group, are a cybercrime group with strong links to North Korea. Over the past decade they have been accused of a number of high profile attacks including the 2014 Sony data breach, the 2016 Bangladesh Bank robbery, the ‘WannaCry’ attack and most recently the $285 million KuCoin hack. With North Korea the subject of heavy UN sanctions and the economy struggling, exacerbated by COVID-19, it has had to look to its sophisticated state funded hacking team Lazarus to fund its large army and condemned nuclear program. In this interview, we hear from Paul French, author of North Korea: A State of Paranoia and an expert on the region. We discuss how the Lazarus group is increasingly looking to cryptocurrency to fund the North Korean regime. - - - - - Show notes and transcription: DEF080 - Show Notes - - - - - Timestamps:Coming soon… - - - - - The success of Defiance will be largely down to the support of you, the listener. Below are a number of ways you can help:- Subscribe to the show on your favourite app so you never miss an episode:iTunesSpotifyDeezerStitcherSoundCloudYouTubeTuneIn- Leave a review of the show on iTunes (5* really helps, if you think the show deserves it).- Share the show and episodes out with your friends and family on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.- Follow Defiance on social media:TwitterFacebookInstagramYouTube- Subscribe to the Defiance mailing list.- Donate Bitcoin here: bc1qd3anlc8lh0cl9ulqah03dmg3r2uxm5r657zr5p If you have any questions then please email Defiance. - - - - -