Type 88 assault rifle

Type 88 assault rifle
Type 88-1 assault rifle
TypeAssault rifle
Place of originNorth Korea
Production history
DesignerMikhail Kalashnikov
Produced1988 (presumed) - present
Specifications
Cartridge5.45×39mm
ActionGas-operated, long-stroke piston, closed rotating bolt
Feed system30-round detachable box magazine, helical magazines
SightsAdjustable iron sights, front post and rear notch on a scaled tangent

The Type 88[1] (Korean: 88식자동보총, sometimes misidentified as the Type 98)[2][3] is an assault rifle made in North Korea derived from the AK-74.

History

The Type 88 was reportedly manufactured in North Korea in 1988[4] as the standard issue rifle of the Korean People's Army.[5]

A Type 88 was salvaged by the Japan Coast Guard during the aftermath of the Battle of Amami-Ōshima in 2001.[6] Some of the captured rifles have AKS-74 folding stocks.[7]

In 2010, the Type 88 was documented to have helical magazines in operational use with North Korean soldiers accompanying Kim Jong-un reportedly used Type 88s with helical magazines.[2][8] In 2017, the Type 88 was reportedly being used by North Korean special forces units.[9][10] They are also seen with the Supreme Guard Command.[11]

Design

The Type 88 is an AK-74 copy with sources suggesting that it was unlicensed and made with technical assistance from China.[1][12] The Type 88s are given a black finish to give them a modern look.[13] Newer Type 88s are made with plastic polymer furniture, which led to the mistake of naming them as the Type 98.[14]

The Type 88 uses 30-round steel magazines,[7][15] but plastic versions are seen with new Type 88s manufactured.[14] Otherwise, the rifles can also use helical magazines.[8][14] There are reported to hold around 100 to 150 rounds.[8] The Type 88 can be fitted with the GP-25 UBGL.[14]

The Type 88, like its predecessors (Type 58 and 68), has no rate reducer.[16] They are also manufactured with AK-74-based muzzle brakes.[7] It has a combined safety/fire selector switch for safe, semi-auto and full-auto.[17]

Variants

Type 88

Clone of the AK-74. Modern versions made to resemble AK-74M.[14]

Type 88-1

North Korean AKS-74 copy.

Fitted with right-folding stocks similar to the Type 56 or Type 81[18][19] and plastic handguards.

Type 88-2

Fitted with top folding stocks[19][20] and plastic handguard and grips. The stock are reportedly made extremely small, which meant lack of support and uncomfortable to use in winter.[19] The stock, however, does not obstruct the iron sights, charging handle and trigger.[21]

This variant was reportedly seen in 2010.[21]

Carbine variant

Compact variant[22] based on the Type 88 with elements borrowed from the AKS-74U and AK-105 with shortened 20-round magazines. The furniture such as the pistol grip and the lightweight stock are made of plastic.

These were seen in December 2016 when North Korean commandos practiced raid on a mockup area of the Blue House.[23]

Bullpup variant

Seen after the 2010s. Based on the Type 88-2 and ADS and chambered to fire 5.45 mm rounds, fitted with a scope and a vertical handgrip.[22]

Chrome variant

Chrome variants are used in the KPA, usually with honor guard soldiers or to exceptional soldiers who have proven themselves.[24][25]

OICW variant

OICW-type weapon based on the Type 88-2 chambered to fire the 5.45 mm round,[26] as well as a 20 mm bullpup bolt-action over-barrel launcher with magazine containing around 5 rounds of programmable airburst grenades.[27][28] It's sometimes known as the NK11.[23]

Around 800 of these rifles were seen in a North Korean military parade in 2018.[23]

Users

  • North Korean KPA soldier with a stockless Type 88 rifle
    North Korean KPA soldier with a stockless Type 88 rifle
  • North Korean troops in 2015 marching with Type 88s.
    North Korean troops in 2015 marching with Type 88s.

References

  1. ^ a b Shea, Dan; Hong, Heebum (1 June 2012). "North Korean Small Arms (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)". Small Arms Review. Chipotle Publishing. Archived from the original on May 28, 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "朝鲜AK ——〖枪炮世界〗". pewpewpew.work. Retrieved 2025-11-09.
  3. ^ "North Korean Small Arms (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)". Small Arms Review. Vol. 16, no. 2. June 2012. Archived from the original on 2019-02-02. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  4. ^ "조선인민군 개인화기 - 88식 돌격소총 < 곽동기의 \'북한의 군사무기\' < 연재 < 특집연재 < 기사본문 - 통일뉴스". www.tongilnews.com. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  5. ^ Mizokami, Kyle (2021-05-30). "Forget Nuclear Weapons: North Korea's Type 88 Assault Rifle Is Everywhere". The National Interest. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  6. ^ "[原创]朝鲜轻武器发展史（步枪篇）". Archived from the original on 2017-07-05. Retrieved 2017-07-14.
  7. ^ a b c "DPRK's AKs: Inside the Shadowy World of North Korean AK Rifles - Athlon Outdoors Exclusive Firearm Updates, Reviews & News". athlonoutdoors.com. 11 September 2018. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  8. ^ a b c "North Korean Helical AK Magazines". The Hoplite. Armament Research Services. February 4, 2014.
  9. ^ Mitzer & Oliemans (2020), p. 92.
  10. ^ "北, 특수작전군 개인화기로 98식 보총 보급 | 연합뉴스". www.yna.co.kr. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  11. ^ Mitzer & Oliemans (2020), p. 91.
  12. ^ Iannamico, Frank (September 11, 2018). "DPRK's AKs: Inside the Shadowy World of North Korean AK Rifles". Tactical Life. Archived from the original on 19 August 2020.
  13. ^ a b "Type 88: The North Korean Army's AK-74 Alternative". 18 November 2021.
  14. ^ a b c d e f Mitzer & Oliemans (2020), p. 31.
  15. ^ "A Guide to 5.45x39mm Kalashnikov Magazine Types".
  16. ^ US Department of Defense. "Type-68 (AKM) Assault Rifle" (PDF). North Korea Country Handbook 1997, Appendix A: Equipment Recognition. p. A-77.
  17. ^ "Type 88 Assault Rifle | Military-Today.com". Archived from the original on 2021-06-23. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  18. ^ "North Korean Small Arms and Light Weapons - Recognition guide" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-05-26.
  19. ^ a b c "Type 88-2: North Korea's Wacky Homegrown Version of the AK-74 Rifle - Business Insider". www.businessinsider.com. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  20. ^ "4 reasons why North Korea's AK variant is just dumb". July 2022.
  21. ^ a b "Type 88-2 Assault Rifle | Military-Today.com". Archived from the original on 2021-05-06. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  22. ^ a b "The Elite Small Arms Of North Korea". 21st Century Asian Arms Race. 2023-03-09. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
  23. ^ a b c Mitzer & Oliemans (2020), p. 32.
  24. ^ https://archive.today/20160130043313/https://www.nknews.org/2014/09/why-some-north-korean-soldiers-have-shiny-chrome-plated-arms/
  25. ^ "North Korean AKs: The Most Popular Export of DPRK. Part 2 -The Firearm Blog". 3 May 2024. Archived from the original on 2024-05-04. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  26. ^ "技术派｜朝鲜版"战略步枪"亮相，外形设计紧跟世界潮流". Archived from the original on 2020-06-05. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  27. ^ F, Nathaniel (21 April 2017). "North Korean "OICW" Combined Assault Rifle and Automatic Grenade Launcher Revealed During Day of the Sun Parade – The Firearm Blog". The Firearm Blog. Archived from the original on 18 April 2022.
  28. ^ "North Korean Assault Rifle with Integrated Grenade Launcher". Military Today. Archived from the original on 2018-07-25. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  29. ^ Mizokami, Kyle (2021-05-30). "Forget Nuclear Weapons: North Korea's Type 88 Assault Rifle Is Everywhere". The National Interest. Retrieved 2025-10-17.

Bibliography

  • Mitzer, Stijn; Oliemans, Joost (2020). The Armed Forces of North Korea: On the Path of Songun. Helion and Company. ISBN 978-1910777145.
  • Tucker-Jones, Anthony (2012). Kalashnikov in Combat. Casemate Publishers. ISBN 978-1-78303-858-9.
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