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[]
Derivatives
|
 North KoreaWeapons 1946 - Present |
|---|
| Infantry Weapons | ||
|---|---|---|
| Melee Weapons | Bayonet | [[]] |
| Survival Weapon | [[]] | |
| Sidearms | Pistol | [[]] |
| Revolver | [[]] | |
| Machine Pistol | [[]] | |
| Close Quarters | Personal Defense Weapon | [[]] |
| Submachine Gun | [[]] | |
| Shotgun (automatic) | [[]] | |
| Shotgun (semi-automatic) | [[]] | |
| Shotgun (manual-action) | [[]] | |
| Primary Weapons | Assault Rifle (5.45/5.56) | Type 88-1 • Type 88-2 |
| Assault Rifle (7.62) | [[]] | |
| Assault Rifle (other) | [[]] | |
| Carbine (5.45/5.56) | [[]] | |
| Carbine (7.62) | [[]] | |
| Carbine (other) | [[]] | |
| Automatic Support Weapons | Light Machine Gun | [[]] |
| General Purpose Machine Gun | [[]] | |
| Heavy Machine Gun | [[]] | |
| Long Range | Anti-Materiel Rifle | [[]] |
| Bolt-Action Rifle | [[]] | |
| Designated Marksman Rifle | [[]] | |
| Launchers | Grenade Launcher (Attachment) | [[]] |
| Grenade Launcher (Standalone) | [[]] | |
| Disposable Rocket Launcher | [[]] | |
| Rocket Launcher | [[]] | |
| Guided, Anti-Tank | [[]] | |
| Guided, Anti-Air | [[]] | |
| Non-Lethal Weapons | Rifle | [[]] |
| Pistol | [[]] | |
| Underwater Weapons | Sidearm | [[]] |
| Rifle | [[]] | |
| Explosives | Anti-Personnel Mines | [[]] |
| Anti-Tank Mines | [[]] | |
| Offensive Grenades | [[]] | |
| Smoke Grenades | [[]] | |
| Firearm Accessories | ||
|---|---|---|
| Optics | Iron Sights | [[]] |
| Collimator | [[]] | |
| Telescopic | [[]] | |
| Magnifier | [[]] | |
| Attachments | Flashlights & Lasers | [[]] |
| Foregrips & Bipods | [[]] | |
| Infantry Equipment | ||
|---|---|---|
| Clothing | Backpacks | [[]] |
| Body Armour | [[]] | |
| Bomb Suit | [[]] | |
| Elbow and knee pads | [[]] | |
| Signals & IFF | [[]] | |
| Suits | [[]] | |
| Vests & Webbing | [[]] | |
| Headwear | Communication | [[]] |
| Gas Masks & Rebreathers | [[]] | |
| Goggles | [[]] | |
| Helmets | [[]] | |
| Vehicle Headwear | [[]] | |
| Optics, Detection and Surveillance | Man-Portable Radar | [[]] |
| Mine Detectors | [[]] | |
| Night Vision Goggles | [[]] | |
| Periscopes | [[]] | |
| Rangefinders | [[]] | |
| Surveillance | [[]] | |
| Artillery | |
|---|---|
| Anti-Aircraft Guns | [[]] |
| Anti-Tank Guns | [[]] |
| Anti-Tank Guided Missiles | [[]] |
| Anti-Tank Guided Missile Systems | [[]] |
| Anti-Tank Guided Missile Systems | [[]] |
| Howitzers | [[]] |
| Mortars | [[]] |
| Railroad Artillery | [[]] |
| Recoilless Guns | [[]] |
| Rocket Artillery | [[]] |
| Siege Artillery | [[]] |
| Land Vehicle Weapons | |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Machine Guns | [[]] |
| 57mm Tank Guns | [[]] |
| 73mm Tank Guns | [[]] |
| 76.2mm Tank Guns | [[]] |
| 85mm Tank Guns | [[]] |
| 100mm Tank Guns | [[]] |
| 115mm Tank Guns | [[]] |
| 120mm Tank Guns | [[]] |
| 122mm Tank Guns | [[]] |
| 125mm Tank Guns | [[]] |
| 130mm Tank Guns | [[]] |
| 152.4mm Tank Guns | [[]] |
| Heavy Guns | [[]] |
| Vehicle Autocannon | [[]] |
| Aircraft Weapons & Munitions | |
|---|---|
| 7.62mm Machine Guns | [[]] |
| 12.7mm Machine Guns | [[]] |
| 23mm Cannons | [[]] |
| 30mm Cannons | [[]] |
| 37mm Cannons | [[]] |
| Rocket Pods | [[]] |
| Rockets | [[]] |
| Air-to-Air Missiles | [[]] |
| Air-to-Ship Missiles | [[]] |
| Air-to-Surface Missiles | [[]] |
| Anti-Radiation Missiles | [[]] |
| Cruise Missiles | [[]] |
| Bombs | [[]] |