The US Navy’s SEAL Team 6 carried out a classified mission in 2019 to plant a listening device in North Korea, reportedly approved by then-President Donald Trump.
However, the operation went awry when the SEALs encountered North Korean civilians diving for shellfish, resulting in the deaths of several individuals.
According to reports, the US soldiers “pulled the bodies into the water to hide them from the North Korean authorities” and allegedly punctured the boat crew’s lungs with knives to ensure their bodies sank.
The mission was part of a broader effort to gather intelligence on North Korea’s leadership during high-stakes diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang.
The New York Times gained knowledge of the botched mission through interviews with dozens of people, including civilian government officials, members of the first Trump administration, and current and former military personnel with knowledge of the mission. All spoke on condition of anonymity due to the mission’s classified status.
When questioned about the report, Trump denied any knowledge of the operation, stating, “I could look, but I know nothing about [it]. I’m hearing it now for the first time.” US officials said it was unclear whether Pyongyang ever pieced together what had happened in 2019.
North Korea has not made any public statements about the deaths of civilians at the time and has yet to comment on the story published by the Times.
The incident highlights the risks and complexities of special operations, particularly in sensitive and high-stakes environments like North Korea.
The use of force and the handling of the aftermath raise questions about the conduct of US military operations and the potential consequences for civilians caught in the crossfire.
In a separate development, tensions between the US and Venezuela have escalated, with President Trump deploying naval forces to the Caribbean to combat drug cartels.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has vowed to defend his country’s sovereignty, stating, “There’s no way they can enter Venezuela.” The US has accused Maduro of links to cocaine trafficking, while Maduro has accused Washington of seeking to implement regime change in Venezuela.