North Korean Type 98 AK-74M

Hi again, everybody. In my next work by Foreign Kalashnikovs we will return to North Korea for the fourth time to show you the famous and unknown Type 98 assault rifles, more modern and advanced versions of the Russian Type 88 assault rifles and North Korean derivatives of the AK-74M assault rifle, Since the butts, pistols and forearms of both weapons are made of hard plastic and not wood. These weapons made in North Korea and, apparently, since 1998, have become very famous for being unique and exclusive weapons for the North Korean special forces and the bodyguards of the current sovereign of the Asian country, Kim Jong-un. The differences between the North Korean Type 98 rifles and the Russian AK-74Ms are three. The first difference is in the Type 98 handguard, which incorporates a single, long cooling slot on each side, to increase heat resistance when the gun fires long bursts of bullets in automatic mode. While the handguard of the Russian AK-74M apparently lacks cooling slots. The second difference is in the folding heads of the North Korean rifles, which are identical to the butt of the Type 88-2 rifle and it is also picked up by turning its end upwards until it is placed just above the cover of the mechanism drawer, having said butt slots or openings for the sights of the weapon. None of all versions of the North Korean Type 98 has a fixed cylinder head. And the reason these North Korean weapons only have folding butts is in the third difference, clearly the most striking of all. This difference is none other than its characteristic tubular magazine, which is very similar to that of the Russian PP-19 Bizon submachine gun, but is much larger and elongated to adapt this part to the typical ammunition of assault rifles. There are rumors about Type 98 rifles saying that these weapons, depending on the models and variants used by North Korean soldiers, can fire both the Soviet 7'62 x 39 and 5'45 x 39 cartridges and the western 5'56 x cartridge. 45 NATO, but it is not known with total certainty due to the strong policy of isolation of foreigners that has always been exercised by the North Korean government, especially the Kim. Hence, North Korea has always been known as "the most airtight country in the world." I hope you like my new work and another cordial greeting. Until next time!