2019 SEAL Team Six Mission in North Korea Exposed
The Secretive 2019 Mission
A gripping investigative report in the New York Times reads like a Hollywood action movie; the headline is ‘How a Top-Secret SEAL Team Six Mission in North Korea Fell Apart’. According to the Times, the operation took place ahead of the 2019 summit between President Trump and Kim Jong-un. Its primary objective was to plant a high-tech electronic device on North Korean soil to intercept Kim Jong-un’s communications. The mission was extremely risky — the stakes were high given the volatility of the North Korean regime and its nuclear capability. Things did not go as planned; no armed North Koreans were killed during the mission, and the episode has not been publicly reported until now.
Trump’s Role and Denial
The New York Times reports that President Trump approved the training for the operation and authorised it. He was asked about it in the Oval Office.
There’s something new — the SEAL incident in 2019. Can you say if the administration has engaged with North Korea on that incident, and can you share any details?
I don’t know anything about it. I’d have to—I could look, but I know nothing.
Inside the Operation
I’m joined now by one of the reporters on the byline, Phillips, the national correspondent for the New York Times, who produced exceptional reporting on this. Can you walk us through the operation step by step? The mission failed largely because of planning problems. Was it intricate, and did it involve a massive submarine approaching North Korean waters and then sending SEALs ashore?
Yeah, my colleague Matthew Colvin and I uncovered this. Basically, the plan was to send a massive nuclear-powered submarine—about two football fields long—right up to the North Korean coast and release two mini-subs. Those submersibles are roughly the size of a killer whale and would approach close to shore. From there, a small team of Navy SEALs would swim to land and plant an electronic listening device.
The Unexpected Encounter
The SEALs were expected to enter and exit undetected, which was critical — being discovered could have sparked a hostage crisis or escalated tensions with a nuclear-armed state. But as they moved toward shore, a small fishing boat — an open-hull skiff — entered the area. The SEALs only noticed the boat when they reached land. It appeared to be directly above where the mini-subs had surfaced, leaving the team in a perilous position: if the boat’s occupants discovered the subs and alerted authorities, the SEALs might not make it out.
According to sources, the SEALs made a split-second decision and shot everyone on the boat. Two or three people, our sources say. The SEALs then swam to the vessel to confirm the killings and found no evidence that those aboard were security forces — no guns, no uniforms. They were likely local fishermen trying to catch something to eat.
Cover-Up and Escape
The operation’s participants attempted to conceal what had happened. According to reporting, they disposed of the bodies and punctured the victims’ lungs so they would sink rather than float. The SEALs were able to withdraw safely, and North Korean military assets swarmed the area soon after their departure.
North Korea’s Silence
Did the North Korean government comment on the incident? The Times could find no public or diplomatic statements from Pyongyang about it. That said, there was a noticeable uptick in North Korean military activity immediately after the operation, which suggests they were aware that something had occurred. Whether they knew civilians had been killed or what the SEALs’ mission entailed is unclear, and it’s not obvious that the U.S. government had a full picture either.
Extreme Challenges for SEAL Team Six
You mentioned ballistic traceability — that the weapons used would not be easily traced. Apparently, the weapons’ configuration was supposed to prevent tracing their origin, or at least that was the plan. It’s one of those details that stood out as a nightmare scenario.
The account also highlights the skill and bravery of the SEALs. They rode in mini-subs filled with very cold water — around 40 degrees — and had to remain in those conditions for roughly two hours en route to the target. It was cramped, dark, and cold, and they breathed through a scuba mouthpiece the whole time. There was no dry space in those crafts; the mission was extraordinarily complicated and physically punishing.
Risk vs. Reward
One of the story’s central themes is risk versus reward. The United States sought better insight into Kim Jong-un’s thinking and his officials’ conversations. The opportunity to plant the device offered potential intelligence gains, but the risks were enormous. A mission failure could have catastrophic consequences.
According to reporting, President Trump personally approved the operation and did so without notifying key members of Congress. The timing and secrecy surrounding the mission added to the story’s significance.
Why the Story Matters
Why did sources come forward with such sensitive information? Accountability is the main reason. SEALs have an almost superhuman reputation in our culture, and a lot of that is earned — they have executed many vital, difficult missions. But many classified failures remain unknown to policymakers and the public. Without that knowledge, future leaders may overestimate what special operations forces can achieve.
There are also questions about the mission’s impact on diplomacy. The report suggests the operation may have derailed progress in nuclear negotiations in 2019. After this mission, diplomatic momentum stalled; relations deteriorated, and North Korea increased missile testing in the years that followed.
Conclusion
The New York Times account is a vivid, troubling piece of reporting. David Phillips and his colleagues produced a remarkable investigation. Thank you.
