Is there a term for a double agent who works for the enemy, but only to spy on the enemy's suspicious ally?

Question

Technically the agent is 'less dangerous' because he is not actually disclosing his agency's direct secrets.

For example, the CIA and MI6 form an allied intelligence, but somehow US and UK get into a minor conflict. They are still 'friends', yet UK suspects US might act against them in the future.

So MI6 ask their, say, North Korean mole (who works for North Korean intelligence) to notify them of any possible threats from the US (against the UK) which they come across; AND if possible also deliberately expose a US weakness/scandal so that UK can use it to gain upper hand against their ally.

Sorry if this is a bit convoluted, I was just wondering if there is a specific term for this type of 'half-double' mole/agent. Thanks :)

Answer 1

Double blade agents - are persons feeding intelligence to different agencies.

Answer 2

The scenario you describe is pretty much par for the course. If MI6 had a mole in the PDRK they would definitely vet the intel he supplied against the intel the CIA shared with MI6. So the mole would be just a plain old double-agent. It's not as if the mole would have any say in how the intel he supplied was used-he just passes it on. As far as they CIA/MI6 relationship goes, that would be a case of, "trust, but verify". Making sure sources cooraborate each other is what it's all about.

Answer 3

The person you're speaking of is not a double agent. They're just performing the task from their handler.

A double-agent is a person who is under the employ of two (or more seperate agencies). For your scenario to meet this description, a CIA officer would have to agree to work for MI6 and in that case would be charged with espionage if caught.

However in your scenario, the UK can task its assets as it sees fit. If they have an assest in place in the DPRK and want to know about suspected American action in the DPRK then so be it.

Answer 4

infultrator....a double agent works for one state whilst "spying" for another. a double agent is a two sided coin. all double agents are considered expendable.