NYT Reports on Failed 2019 US SEAL Team Six Mission in North Korea
A new, exclusive report from The New York Times has revealed details of a previously unknown top-secret military operation in North Korea that ended in a catastrophic failure and the deaths of several North Korean civilians. According to the report, which cites dozens of current and former U.S. officials, the mission was carried out by the elite Navy SEAL Team Six in February 2019 under direct orders from then-President Donald J. Trump. The objective of the mission was to install highly advanced surveillance equipment capable of eavesdropping on communications made by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during high-stakes nuclear talks with the United States.
The operation was meticulously planned and involved a high-risk infiltration of North Korean territory. Under the cover of darkness, the SEALs were deployed from a nuclear-powered submarine via mini-subs. Wearing black wetsuits and night-vision goggles, they surfaced and began to creep toward the shore. However, the mission swiftly unraveled when a small vessel carrying several North Korean civilians, later identified as fishermen, appeared out of the dark. Fearing that they had been spotted, the SEALs opened fire, killing everyone on the boat. Having compromised the mission, the commandos retreated back to the submarine, declaring the mission a failure.
The revelation is particularly significant because it occurred during a period of intense and sensitive diplomacy between the U.S. and North Korea. The mission was executed just weeks before the historic Hanoi Summit between President Trump and Kim Jong-un, which ultimately collapsed without a deal. The report suggests that the U.S. was attempting to gain a clandestine advantage in the negotiations by gathering intelligence on the North Korean leader’s private communications. The fact that the operation remained a secret for over six years highlights the extreme level of classification surrounding the event.
The classified Pentagon review that followed the incident reportedly concluded that the killings fell within the rules of engagement, but the mission was still considered a failure due to its compromised nature. Neither the U.S. nor North Korea has ever publicly acknowledged or even hinted at the operation. The public revelation of the failed mission is expected to have far-reaching consequences, potentially fueling renewed tensions between the U.S. and North Korea at a time when diplomatic relations are largely frozen. It also raises serious questions about the use of military force during diplomatic efforts and the potential for a small, covert operation to trigger a major international crisis.
