Sony Pictures Entertainment is actively exploring the possibility that the hackers behind a serious cyber attack, which saw a number of high profile unreleased and newly released films ending up on popular torrent websites, may have been working for the North Korean Government.
The 'Hermit Kingdom' has been vocal in its criticism of Sony's forthcoming title, The Interview, a film which sees Seth Rogan and James Franco travel to North Korea and attempt to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un.
The films Fury and Mr Turner were released as part of the hack, as well the unreleased titles Annie, Still Alice, and To Write Love on Her Arms.
The film is set for release on Christmas day in the United States. Sources "familiar with the matter" told Re/code - a tech website who are partners with CNBC - that the timing of the attack has made North Korea a suspect. Security consultants are said to be actively exploring the theory that the hack was carried out by a third party based in China, working on behalf of North Korea.
A spokesperson for the North Korean foreign ministry previously issued a threat to BBC News, promising a retaliation for the film, saying: "Making and releasing a movie on a plot to hurt our top level leadership is the most blatant act of terrorism and war and will absolutely not be tolerated."
Kim Myong-chol, executive director of The Centre for North Korea-US Peace and unofficial spokesman for North Korea has spoken-out against the film, commenting that: "A film about the assassination of a foreign leader mirrors what the US has done in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Ukraine."
He also brought up the assassination of John F Kennedy, and suggested that current US president Barrack Obama, "should be careful in case the US military wants to kill him as well".
A group called Guardians of Peace left messages on Sony employees computers claiming responsibility for the attack. The group use the hashtag #GOP.
While the films are the most obvious issue for Sony after the attack, it is also believed that email archives and over 700 confidential documents have also been stolen.
