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Overview[]

The Type 88 Assault Rifle is the descriptive name given to AK-74-pattern assault rifles, originating from North Korea.

Due to a lack of evidence to prove that North Korea acquired any license to produce AK-74s from Russia, it is instead believed that production assistance was provided by China, although such claims are also uncertain.

Development[]

Up until well within the 1980s, North Korea had still been utilizing the much older Type 68 Assault Rifle, which itself was a development on the Soviet AKM. Since most nations that were utilizing AK-platform firearms at the time had updated to the AK-74, and the 5,45x39mm cartridge as a whole. In order to update to these standards, North Korea would seek a new rifle to replace their old ones.

Since the Soviet Union and China had increasingly worsening relations with one another, it is possible that North Korea opted to not purchase from the Soviet Union as a way to not provoke China, who is one of the few diplomatic allies to North Korea.

Due to a lack of sourced models outside of North Korea, determining when the assault rifle began development is unclear, however, the name Type 88, reflects potential service adoption in 1988.

At an unknown later time, the Type 88 would be further developed into the Type 88-1, which features a crude QBZ81-1 folding stock.

The Type 88-2 is similar to both previous models, however, it features a unique top-folding stock. These models are also commonly seen with a large, helical drum magazine. Possibly slated to replace older Type 88 models in North Korean service.

Design[]

Visually, the Type 88 is purely a development of the AK-74, albeit with few minor differences. Furthermore, most Type 88 models have not been exported in wide amounts, however, few examples of older models have been seen in-use with some African nations.

The AK-74 was not the only weapon that the Type 88 had drawn influence from, but a variety of other Chinese assault rifles from the same era. Most notably, the QBZ81-1 assault rifle would be used on the later Type 88-1 development, as can be seen by the similar folding buttstocks on the rifles.

Variants[]

Type 88
Standard production model.
Type 88-1
Model featuring side-folding stock.
Type 88-2
Model featuring top-folding stock.

Derivatives

Type 98-3 (?)
Compact model presumably developed from the Type 88-2.
Flag of North Korea (1992 to Present) North Korea
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