Type 88 assault rifle


The Type 88 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 as the standard issue rifle of the Korean People's Army.
A Type 88 was salvaged by the Japan Coast Guard during the aftermath of the Battle of Amami-Ōshima in 2001. Some of the captured rifles have AKS-74 folding stocks.
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. In 2017, the Type 88 was reportedly being used by North Korean special forces units. They are also seen with the Supreme Guard Command.

Design

The Type 88 is an AK-74 copy with sources suggesting that it was unlicensed and made with technical assistance from China. The Type 88s are given a black finish to give them a modern look. Newer Type 88s are made with plastic polymer furniture, which led to the mistake of naming them as the Type 98.
The Type 88 uses 30-round steel magazines, but plastic versions are seen with new Type 88s manufactured. Otherwise, the rifles can also use helical magazines. There are reported to hold around 100 to 150 rounds. The Type 88 can be fitted with the GP-25 UBGL.
The Type 88, like its predecessors, has no rate reducer. They are also manufactured with AK-74-based muzzle brakes. It has a combined safety/fire selector switch for safe, semi-auto and full-auto.

Variants

Type 88

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

Type 88-1

North Korean AKS-74 copy.
Fitted with right-folding stocks similar to the Type 56 or Type 81 and plastic handguards.

Type 88-2

Fitted with top folding stocks and plastic handguard and grips. The stock are reportedly made extremely small, which meant lack of support and uncomfortable to use in winter. The stock, however, does not obstruct the iron sights, charging handle and trigger.
This variant was reportedly seen in 2010.

Carbine variant

Compact variant 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.

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.

Chrome variant

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

OICW variant

OICW-type weapon based on the Type 88-2 chambered to fire the 5.45 mm round, as well as a 20 mm bullpup bolt-action over-barrel launcher with magazine containing around 5 rounds of programmable airburst grenades. It's sometimes known as the NK11.
Around 800 of these rifles were seen in a North Korean military parade in 2018.

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