Type 88
North Korean State Arsenals · Assault Rifle · In Production · 1988
Also known as: 88-nyeon-sik, North Korean AK-74
Overview
The Type 88 is a select-fire assault rifle chambered in 5.45x39mm, produced by North Korean State Arsenals since 1988. Safety features include manual safety selector, hammer notch, reflecting modern design standards that prioritize safe handling and operation. As a recognized participant in the global firearms industry, North Korean State Arsenals applies modern manufacturing technology and quality control processes to deliver products that compete effectively in a market where reliability and performance are non-negotiable requirements for both civilian and professional end users.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3100 g (109.3 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 3450 g (121.7 oz) |
| Overall Length | 940 mm (37.01") |
| Barrel Length | 415 mm (16.34") |
| Height | 195 mm (7.68") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated Long Stroke |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 30 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 900 m/s (2953 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 1391 J (1026 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 500 m (547 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 800 m (875 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 650 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 196 mm (7.72") |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 5.45x39mm · primary — also known as 5.45x39mm Soviet, 5.45mm Kalashnikov, 7N6
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic, Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety Selector, Hammer Notch
- Features: Rotating Bolt, Select Fire, Ak-74 Derivative, Locally Produced Steel Magazines, All Black Finish
Variants
Base model
Service history
Operators
- Korean People's Army · adopted 1988
- Korean People's Army Special Operations Force · adopted 1988 · as Type 88-2
Production
Production years: 1988-present
Production numbers are unknown due to North Korean state secrecy. Believed to be standard issue for the 1.2 million-strong Korean People's Army.
Origin
Country of origin: North Korea
Notes
The Type 88 is shrouded in secrecy typical of North Korean military equipment, with limited independently verified technical data. Most specifications are inferred from its AK-74 parentage and external examination of captured or displayed examples. The Type 88-1 variant features a side-folding stock for paratrooper and vehicle crew use. The Type 88-2 is a modernized variant with a steel top-folding stock and upgraded furniture, sometimes seen fitted with a distinctive 75-round helical drum magazine - a uniquely North Korean development that provides high ammunition capacity without the width of a conventional drum. In 2017, North Korea displayed a heavily modified Type 88-2 variant configured as an Objective Individual Combat Weapon (OICW) with an integrated grenade launcher and optical sight system. Manufacturing quality is uncertain, with some analysts noting inconsistencies in finish and fit compared to Soviet or Russian-produced AK-74s. The rifle is standard issue throughout the Korean People's Army, which numbers approximately 1.2 million active personnel.
Background
The Type 88's all-black cosmetic finish was a deliberate aesthetic choice by the DPRK to make the weapon appear modern and visually competitive with South Korea's Daewoo K2 and the American M16. North Korea also developed a unique 75-round helical drum magazine for the Type 88-2, a distinctly North Korean innovation not found on any other AK variant.