A secret US Navy SEALs operation in 2019 resulted in the killing of several North Korean civilians, according to a New York Times investigation published Friday. The report alleges that SEAL Team 6, tasked with planting a listening device inside North Korea, opened fire on civilians after a mission went wrong, with approval reportedly given by then-President Donald Trump.
The classified mission unfolded during tense negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang. Operating under blackout communications, SEALs came across North Korean civilians — reportedly shellfish divers — and shot them, later sinking their boat to conceal evidence. Sources told the Times the soldiers used knives to puncture victims’ lungs so bodies would sink, ensuring discovery by North Korean authorities was avoided.
The Times cited multiple officials, including former Trump administration members and military personnel, who spoke anonymously due to the mission’s classified nature. They said secrecy often hides such failures from public scrutiny. Trump denied knowledge of the operation when asked, claiming he was hearing about it “for the first time.” North Korea has not commented, and it remains unclear whether Pyongyang ever uncovered the incident.
