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.
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.
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.
You don’t seriously think that a phrase book is a practical alternative to a native speaker.
Did I say that?
I provided a list of alternatives showing that it’s not too important to have a lot of translators.