North Korea acquires Austria's elite sniper rifles amid mystery
In North Korea, Kim Jong Un took part in unveiling new weaponry for the special forces, including new sniper rifles, which intriguingly originate from one of the well-known manufacturers in the European Union. Here's what Kim fired and an explanation of how this weapon could have reached the DPRK.
Kim Jong Un personally tested the new sniper rifle, which was identified as the Steyr SSG 08, manufactured in Austria. Its presence in the DPRK is puzzling, as it could only have unofficially arrived through third-party countries.
European rifles in the DPRK — Russia could have been the source
North Korea, like Iran, is under sanctions and acquires weaponry or components through secretive methods and networks that mask the end client. Still, some countries always permit local companies to sell to other sanctioned nations.
It is noteworthy that North Korea gained access to more advanced equipment due to substantial aid from the DPRK to Russia, as Russia remains less isolated globally than the DPRK. Most likely, Austrian SSG 08 rifles, which are available on the civilian market, found their way to Kazakhstan or another state maintaining relations with Russia, similar to the case with sniper ammunition components. The rifles from Russia may then have been transferred to the DPRK as payment for other equipment.
Steyr SSG 08 - sniper excellence from Austria
The Steyr SSG 08 rifle has been manufactured since 2008, and its name derives from Scharfschützengewehr 2008. The gun was designed to meet the specifications of the EKO Cobra counter-terrorism unit. It's worth mentioning that the Steyr company boasts a rich history dating back to 1864, having introduced many unique and revolutionary weapons in its time.
SSG 08 is a classic bolt-action rifle fed from interchangeable magazines, requiring manual reloading after each shot. It is noted for its high precision of even under 0.5 MOA, although shooters have achieved even 0.3 MOA with Steyr rifles.
MOA stands for minute of angle, a unit frequently used to gauge firearms' accuracy. This rifle allows all shots to fit within a circle with a diameter of about 9 mm to 15 mm at 100 metres, and at 300 metres, this translates to 26 mm to 43 mm. This precision allows multiple hits on a target the size of a tissue box, even at 300 metres.
The Steyr SSG 08 is available in variants for 7.62x51 mm NATO (.308 Winchester), 7.62x67 mm (.300 Winchester Magnum), and 8.6x70 mm (.338 Lapua Magnum) ammunition. The last calibre enables precise shooting over a distance exceeding 1.5 kilometres; even the best ballistic plates in the world can't protect against bullets of this calibre.
Apart from key components such as a cold hammer-forged barrel or a bolt with four locking lugs and a trigger mechanism, the rifle is constructed from aluminium, maintaining a manageable weight. Depending on the calibre, the SSG 08 weighs between about 5.4 and 6.1 kg unloaded without a bipod and optical sight with mount, which in practice adds more than half a kilogram.
It appears the rifle Kim fired has a factory-installed optical sight similar to the highly popular Schmidt & Bender 5-25x56 PM II in recent years.
As expected from a modern sniper weapon, the SSG 08 is highly customisable to suit the shooter's physique. The side-folding stock has adjustments for length or cheek pad height and even an extendable monopod with adjustable height. Meanwhile, the dorsal section of the Picatinny rail comes standard with a 20 MOA incline.
