U.S. Navy SEALs Killed North Korean Civilians During Covert 2019 Mission, Report Says

Lead: A New York Times investigation, published today, reveals that U.S. Navy SEALs fatally shot two or three North Korean civilians aboard a small boat off the country’s east coast during a secret 2019 mission to install an electronic listening device.

Nut Graf: The report exposes the risks and secrecy surrounding America’s most elite special operations, highlighting how a botched operation-authorized by former President Donald Trump-resulted in civilian deaths and was kept from key members of Congress. The incident raises questions about oversight of covert military actions and the potential for unintended escalation with Pyongyang.

Mission Overview

  • Objective: Plant a high-tech listening device to intercept communications from Kim Jong Un ahead of nuclear negotiations.
  • Forces Involved: Red Squadron of SEAL Team 6, supported by a nuclear-powered submarine and two mini-subs.
  • Location: Remote shoreline off North Korea’s east coast.
  • Timing: Early 2019, amid heightened U.S.-North Korea diplomatic engagements.

Sequence of Events

  1. Insertion: SEALs deployed from a U.S. submarine in two mini-subs, navigating icy waters to within yards of a rocky shore.
  2. Encounter: A small North Korean boat, carrying two or three individuals-later identified as civilian shellfish divers-approached the submerged mini-subs.
  3. Engagement: Believing their cover was blown and unable to confirm if the boat carried military personnel, the SEALs opened fire. All aboard the vessel were killed.
  4. Abort and Extraction: After ensuring the bodies sank by puncturing their lungs, the SEALs signaled the submarine and withdrew without completing the device installation.

Aftermath and Oversight

  • Classified Reviews: Military inquiries deemed the killings justified but kept the findings under wraps.
  • Congressional Notification: Key lawmakers were not informed of the operation until months later under the Biden administration, raising legal and ethical concerns over required briefings for covert actions.
  • Diplomatic Impact: Though North Korea did not publicly acknowledge the incident, U.S. satellites detected increased military activity in the region shortly afterward.

Broader Implications

The revelations underscore the challenges of conducting covert raids in denied territories, where lack of real-time intelligence and communication can lead to fatal miscalculations. They also fuel debate over the balance between national security interests and the need for transparency and accountability in executing high-risk special operations.