Secret Operation Gone Wrong
American special forces operatives from the elite Navy SEAL Team 6, the same unit that conducted the raid that killed Osama bin Laden in 2011, were involved in a covert mission in North Korea in early 2019 that resulted in the deaths of North Korean civilians. According to a 12https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/05/us/navy-seal-north-korea-trump-2019.html\'>New York Times investigation, the mission was approved by then-President Donald Trump during a period of diplomatic engagement with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Mission Objectives
The Navy SEALs were tasked with planting sophisticated surveillance equipment along the North Korean coast to intercept communications from Kim Jong-un and his inner circle. This operation was planned during a delicate diplomatic period that included historic summits between Trump and Kim, including the first-ever meeting between a sitting U.S. president and a North Korean leader.
Tragic Encounter
During the nighttime insertion operation, the SEAL team encountered what appeared to be a local fishing vessel. When flashlights were suddenly directed toward the American commandos, they opened fire, killing all occupants of the boat. Intelligence sources indicate the victims were likely civilian divers harvesting shellfish rather than military personnel.
Aftermath and Investigation
The mission was immediately aborted, and the SEAL team returned without accomplishing their primary objective. A subsequent Pentagon investigation concluded that the use of lethal force was justified under the circumstances, though the exact number of casualties remains unclear with estimates ranging from two to three fatalities.
Diplomatic Context
This incident occurred during a period of unprecedented diplomatic engagement between the United States and North Korea. President Trump made history by becoming the first sitting U.S. president to set foot on North Korean soil during his meeting with Kim Jong-un at the DMZ in June 2019. Despite these symbolic gestures, the diplomatic efforts ultimately failed to achieve the primary goal of denuclearizing the Korean peninsula.
The White House has declined to comment on the New York Times report, maintaining its position of not discussing classified operations. The revelation comes as former President Trump has recently expressed interest in renewing diplomatic talks with North Korea, suggesting he plans to meet with Kim Jong-un again in the near future.