South Korean media claimed on Monday that Seoul could send military and intelligence personnel to Ukraine after the North dispatched troops to support Russia in the war.

A report said the government and military of South Korea “are reviewing a plan to send an appropriate number of personnel, including intelligence officers [specialized in North Korea] and experts in enemy tactics,” to Ukraine, citing a South Korean intelligence official.

South Korean personnel in Ukraine would interrogate or provide interpretation services if North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces, the report said. They would also provide Kyiv with information about the North’s military tactics, doctrine, and operations.

  • x00z@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    2
    arrow-down
    19
    ·
    25 days ago

    Very weird choice. They don’t have to do this at all.

    And Ukraine doesn’t need their intelligence officers either. Because it’s not like NK has some sort of capable force.

    • IphtashuFitz@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      15
      ·
      25 days ago

      It’s still a very good idea for any country to keep close tabs on an adversary. Complacency never benefits anybody. And the South Koreans will be better at translating, especially when it comes to any slang, regional dialects, etc.

    • EatATaco@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      8
      ·
      25 days ago

      You don’t think South Korea has far more expertise when it comes to North Korea than Ukraine?

        • egrets@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          6
          ·
          25 days ago

          It’s right in the article, near the top. You don’t even need to scroll. They know far more about their language, tactics (presumably including equipment), attitude, and methods of operating than probably anyone in Ukraine.

          South Korean personnel in Ukraine would interrogate or provide interpretation services if North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces, the report said. They would also provide Kyiv with information about the North’s military tactics, doctrine, and operations.

          • x00z@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            arrow-down
            7
            ·
            24 days ago

            Yes but all of that is useless. What are those tactics, doctrine and operations? In the end there is no real difference between soldiers.

            Interpretation services might be the only good thing, but even that doesn’t require actual soldiers to be sent. Little translated phrase books, mobile apps, a few translators deeper in their own territory, etc. All of that makes it so South Korea doesn’t have to meddle. It’s like if the US would go to war with Canada and France joins in because they could help translate the french that is spoken in some parts of Canada.

            So my point still stands, South Korea doesn’t really help the military with anything but the manpower itself. And this just means South Korea is there to fight North Korea. Which I still think is a questionable move for them.

            • egrets@lemmy.world
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              2
              arrow-down
              1
              ·
              24 days ago

              You don’t seriously think that a phrase book is a practical alternative to a native speaker.

              • x00z@lemmy.world
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                1
                arrow-down
                5
                ·
                24 days ago

                Did I say that?

                I provided a list of alternatives showing that it’s not too important to have a lot of translators.