South Korea may send military specialists to Russia and Ukraine“>Ukraine as North Korea sent troops to support Russia.
Newsweek reports this with reference to South Korean media.
The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Korea is also considering the possibility of supplying Ukraine with lethal weapons.
According to South Korean intelligence, the country’s government and military are discussing sending a team of specialists, including intelligence officers who have experience working with North Korea, as well as tactical experts. These specialists will conduct interrogations and provide translation if North Korean military personnel are captured by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as well as provide information about North Korean military methods and strategies.
The South Korean Ministry of Defense noted at a press briefing that it is ready to consider options for the supply of lethal weapons, given the relevance of this issue. Previously, Seoul provided Kyiv only with humanitarian assistance.
It is important to note that the law in South Korea prohibits the participation of citizens in military operations abroad without government permission. This is due to the desire to maintain neutrality in international conflicts and avoid involving citizens in wars, especially given the tense relations with the DPRK. Violation of these norms may result in criminal liability for the military.
In February 2022, South Korea banned its citizens from traveling to Ukraine. However, soon after the start of a full-scale war, information appeared about a group of volunteers from South Korea, former special forces, led by blogger and ex-military Lee Geun, who went to Ukraine. In response, Seoul threatened them with deprivation of citizenship.
After Lee Geun’s return in May 2022, when he was injured, the government opened a criminal case against him for violating the passport law because he left for Ukraine without official permission. In addition, South Korea, due to its policy of non-intervention, has strict restrictions on the export of weapons and the participation of its citizens in conflicts abroad, and does not supply weapons to countries that are at war, like Ukraine is now.
Let us remind you that “Cursor” wrote that the South Korean intelligence service NIS revealed details about which soldiers North Korea sent to participate in the war on the territory of Ukraine.
According to data, before Sergei Shoigu’s visit to Pyongyang, which took place from September 8 to 13, about 1,500 North Korean troops were transported to Russia. They arrived on four landing ships and three frigates of the Russian Pacific Fleet from the ports of Chongjin and Hamhung to Vladivostok.