U.S. Navy SEAL Secret Mission in North Korea Exposed

Darwin, September 8 — A covert operation conducted by the U.S. Navy’s elite SEAL Team 6 in North Korea in 2019 has recently come to light, with reports claiming the mission ended in failure and the deaths of several civilians. The revelations were made by The New York Times in a newly published investigative report.

According to the report, the highly sensitive mission was personally authorized by then-President Donald Trump. Its primary objective was to install a spy device to intercept communications from North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un.

The mission was undertaken by the Red Squadron, the most elite unit within SEAL Team 6 — the same team that carried out the 2011 raid killing Osama bin Laden.

At the time, the U.S. was engaged in nuclear negotiations with North Korea, and the operation was reportedly conceived to fill intelligence gaps during those discussions.

Due to the extreme sensitivity of the mission, failure could have jeopardized the entire diplomatic process or even resulted in American troops being captured.

The Operation Plan

The operation was launched from a nuclear submarine, which deployed two smaller stealth submarines to bring the SEALs close to the North Korean coast. From there, they were to swim for hours through freezing waters, install the listening device on land, and quietly exfiltrate.

However, upon reaching the shore, the situation changed drastically. The SEALs unexpectedly encountered a North Korean fishing boat, which was not supposed to be present according to months of prior surveillance.

When a flashlight from the boat pointed toward the SEALs, fearing imminent detection, the commandos opened fire.

The civilians on board — later identified as shellfish and clam collectors — were unarmed and killed in the gunfire. According to The New York Times, two to three civilians were killed in the incident.

Aftermath and Cover-up

Unable to complete their mission, the SEALs retreated without installing the device. To eliminate evidence, they reportedly punctured the lungs of the deceased with knives and submerged the bodies, ensuring they would not float to the surface.

Subsequent satellite imagery showed increased military activity by North Korean forces in the area. However, it remains unclear whether Pyongyang ever fully uncovered the incident. To date, North Korea has issued no official response.

Analysts suggest the North may have chosen to remain silent to avoid revealing vulnerabilities in its border defense systems.

Just weeks after the failed mission, in February 2019, a second summit between Trump and Kim in Hanoi, Vietnam, collapsed without any agreement. Shortly thereafter, North Korea resumed missile testing.

Legal and Political Implications

The operation may have violated U.S. law, as the relevant Congressional oversight committees were not informed. When asked by reporters, Trump denied any knowledge of the operation, stating, “This is the first I’m hearing of it.”

The Pentagon declined to comment, while the Biden administration reportedly briefed key members of Congress on the operation in 2021 and initiated an internal investigation — the findings of which remain classified.