Washington: Sony Pictures Entertainment is looking into whether North Korea may have been behind a major cyberattack on the studio last week, a news website reported.


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The website re/code noted that the attack came as the studio neared release of a comedy about a CIA plot to assassinate its leader Kim Jong-Un.


"The Interview," which stars Seth Rogan and James Franco as two journalists recruited by the CIA to bump off Kim, has infuriated the North Koreans, with state media warning of "merciless retaliation."


Citing sources familiar with the matter, re/code on Friday said Sony and outside consultants were exploring the theory hackers operating in China carried out the attack last Monday on behalf of North Korea.


A North Korean link has not been confirmed, however, according to the sources.


An image posted on the Reddit social network from an individual claiming to be a former Sony employee showed a page with the words "Hacked by #GOP." It was unclear what GOP stands for, but some reports said the hacker group is called Guardians of Peace.


The posted image said unspecified demands must be met by Sony or important files would be released.