North Korea’s ‘new’ sniper rifle likely Austrian import or copy: Analysis



Analysis North Korea’s ‘new’ sniper rifle likely Austrian import or copy: Analysis Rifle tested by Kim Jong Un ‘appears identical’ to Austrian-made model, says expert, but company denies any link to DPRK Colin Zwirko April 8, 2025 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON State media photo depicting Kim Jong Un aiming a "new" sniper rifle model presumably before firing \| Image: KCNA (April 5, 2025) A new sniper rifle North Korea claims to be developing appears to actually be an imported model made by Austrian gunmaker Steyr Arms or a convincing copy, according to expert analysis. Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) claimed on Saturday that DPRK leader Kim Jong Un “conducted the test-fire of a sniper rifle to be newly supplied to special operations units,” praising the “power of the sniper rifle developed in our own way.” Three still images showed Kim testing out a single sniper rifle model that has not been seen in the country before, suggesting this Read More © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. LATEST ANALYSIS 01Tools of the trade: How North Korea launders billions in stolen cryptocurrency 02North Korea’s ‘new’ sniper rifle likely Austrian import or copy: Analysis 03North Korean ICBM factory upgrade project resumes, expands: Imagery 04Ruse or revolution? Analyzing North Korea’s new drone and AEW&C aircraft 05New construction underway near North Korean aircraft factories amid drone push 06What Americans think about travel to North Korea, 8 years after Warmbier’s death 07North Korea preparing to move large new warship in sign of advanced development 08How Trump can break the impasse with North Korea by prioritizing nuclear safety

Analysis

North Korea’s ‘new’ sniper rifle likely Austrian import or copy: Analysis

Rifle tested by Kim Jong Un ‘appears identical’ to Austrian-made model, says expert, but company denies any link to DPRK

Colin Zwirko April 8, 2025

North Korea’s ‘new’ sniper rifle likely Austrian import or copy: Analysis

State media photo depicting Kim Jong Un aiming a "new" sniper rifle model presumably before firing | Image: KCNA (April 5, 2025)

A new sniper rifle North Korea claims to be developing appears to actually be an imported model made by Austrian gunmaker Steyr Arms or a convincing copy, according to expert analysis.

Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) claimed on Saturday that DPRK leader Kim Jong Un “conducted the test-fire of a sniper rifle to be newly supplied to special operations units,” praising the “power of the sniper rifle developed in our own way.”

Three still images showed Kim testing out a single sniper rifle model that has not been seen in the country before, suggesting this

01Tools of the trade: How North Korea launders billions in stolen cryptocurrency
02North Korea’s ‘new’ sniper rifle likely Austrian import or copy: Analysis
03North Korean ICBM factory upgrade project resumes, expands: Imagery
04Ruse or revolution? Analyzing North Korea’s new drone and AEW&C aircraft
05New construction underway near North Korean aircraft factories amid drone push
06What Americans think about travel to North Korea, 8 years after Warmbier’s death
07North Korea preparing to move large new warship in sign of advanced development
08How Trump can break the impasse with North Korea by prioritizing nuclear safety

North Korea’s ‘new’ sniper rifle likely Austrian import or copy: Analysis

LATEST ANALYSIS

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Colin Zwirko