A Russian gunmaker has claimed that North Korea copied the design of a sniper rifle produced by his company, after state media released photos of leader Kim Jong Un firing a similar gun during a factory visit earlier this month.

Vladislav Lobaev, CEO of Lobaev Arms, told the Russian media outlet Mash that the rifle Kim used to demonstrate his marksmanship replicates Lobaev Arms’ DVL-10M1 Saboteur.

Several North Koreans acquired three rifles of that model “for hunting” before the start of the war in Ukraine, Lobaev reportedly said.

The gunmaker suggested North Korean technicians could achieve high accuracy and firing