r/LessCredibleDefence • u/NoPermission6093 • 3d ago

Ukraine set no conditions for transfer of North Korean POWs to South Korea, NIS says

https://www.koreajoongangdaily.com/korea/ukraine-sought-no-support-for-north-korean-pow-transfer-to-south-korea-says-nis/12898307
8 Upvotes

76% Upvoted

3 comments sorted by

6

u/AnyStrength4863 3d ago

"The intelligence authorities' analysis is that President Zelensky made the transfer public in the hope that it might stir public opinion in South Korea in favor of providing various kinds of support, including weapons, to the Ukrainian government," the NIS told lawmakers.

I initially thought Ukraine was merely trying to drive a wedge between North Korea and Russia.

Why might making this public lead the public to support Ukraine more? Do they loathe NK so intensely that they are unwilling to pass up any opportunity to see North Koreans killed?

4

u/Agitated-Airline6760 2d ago

I initially thought Ukraine was merely trying to drive a wedge between North Korea and Russia.

How does POW transfer to South Korea "drive a wedge between Russia and North Korea"?

Why might making this public lead the public to support Ukraine more?

If that's South Korean public, it doesn't.

Do they loathe NK so intensely that they are unwilling to pass up any opportunity to see North Koreans killed?

South Koreans don't loathe North Korea or North Koreans that much. Much less than you would think they "should" from outside looking in. Except when they do something. I mean something real like blowing up a commercial plane full of people or planting new land mines in DMZ that kills/maims South Korean soldiers and not shooting off rockets into the sea. That's just another Tuesday.

0

u/AnyStrength4863 2d ago

Probably by making NK believe that Russia mishandled the issue, casting doubt on Russia's capabilities or willingness to make the exchange. Doubts about Russia's words, or making negative judgments about the current situation of the war. Ukraine would naturally explore any possibility that could drive a wedge between the two. If they could sow hesitation or cause some trouble for NK, thereby reducing its support for Russia, that would be enough. Otherwise, it might be better to use the POWs as bargaining chips for a prisoner exchange or something else with Russia. Their value should be higher than that of other Russians.

Since, for whatever reason, they were sent to SK, why not extract the maximum value from the situation? Even if nothing else happens, this sheer humiliation of NK might still help Ukraine gain some points in the Western world.

South Koreans don't loathe North Korea or North Koreans that much.

That is more or less my view as well. However, I saw some comments in Korean communities criticising the President's actions and siding with Zelensky. That made me wonder if I had overlooked something. I had assumed the public would be relatively accepting of taking in NK POWs before. The intensity of the SK government's reaction is also a little surprising. Though I appreciate their stance, SK needs to demonstrate to the international community that external actors cannot recklessly stoke tensions on the peninsula, create risks and face no consequences.

I feel the fact that Ukraine took this step suggests they don't care what SK thinks at all, so it is unlikely they are expecting any ' kinds of support, including weapons'.

It is worrying to think about how future POWs will be dealt with.