S&T Motiv, Korea’s only manufacturer of small-caliber firearms, said it will export pistols to the United States for the first time starting in May.

S&T Motiv said it will export upgraded versions of the DP51 handgun worth a total of about 6 billion won through an American firearms importer named Lion Heart Industry for 18 months. The revolvers will be rebranded LH9, LH9 MKII and LH9C in the U.S. market.

The deal comes after S&T Motiv’s products passed the shooting tests and quality tests required for exports to the world’s largest firearms market.

“We plan to sign additional contracts to supply other pistols and the K-series guns depending on our sales in the U.S.,” an S&T Motiv official said.

S&T Motiv renamed itself from S&T Daewoo in a shareholders’ meeting early this month.

By Kim So-hyun (sophie@heraldcorp.com)