Korea’s K2 Rifle: Praised in the U.S., North Korea Caught Using it Secretly

Korean standard assault rifle K2
Currently being exported to various countries
Highly praised by the National Rifle Association

The best comrade of Korean men with military experience, whether we like it or not, is probably the K2 rifle, which always waits to be fired on our backs, sides, and hands. Despite its many drawbacks, it has held its place as Korea’s standard rifle for a long time due to its high reliability.

We may find it a bit lacking because we are familiar with it, but K2 is a rifle that receives quite a good evaluation abroad. It is being exported to various countries. Today, let’s talk about the K2 rifle that has gone abroad.

Impressive level of self-production and export
Used in 12 countries, including ‘North Korea’

Only 40 countries in the world produce rifles on their own, and among them, only 10 countries have achieved both production and export. Therefore, K2 itself is an indicator of Korea’s defense level.

Various countries use K2. Special forces in Bangladesh and Iraq have introduced the K2C, a derivative of K2, and the military in Lebanon, Ecuador, and Indonesia also uses it. Ironically, North Korea has also been confirmed to use the K2 rifle, but it is not known precisely how it was acquired, and it is assumed to be a copy. 

Even the National Rifle Association was surprised
It’s said to combine the advantages of M16 and AK-47

K2, a hybrid firearm, has also been exported to the U.S. civil market. Josh, a Grandmaster of the National Rifle Association and one of the top firearms experts in the U.S. expressed his opinion that the K2 rifle is a very excellent weapon, and, strangely, it is not as well-known despite its performance. 

Josh also explains that one of the features of K2 is combining the advantages of various guns, especially AK-47 and M16, and FN series guns, the representative standard rifles of the Eastern and Western blocs during K2’s development. He concludes that K2 is a great gun that combines the features of various guns, such as the gas system of the AK, the gas regulator in the style of FN, the sights like the M249, and the piston of the M16.

One of K-defense’s main export items

Since exports began in the early 2000s, it has been said that it was the spearhead of K-defense, which has risen to a global level. However, it seems to Korean men that it might look like a tiresome friend they no longer want to see.