Clandestine SEAL Team 6 mission into North Korea fell apart in 2019

In early 2019, Trump approved a clandestine SEAL Team 6 operation to plant a device in North Korea to intercept Kim Jong-un’s communications. Red Squadron, known for killing bin Laden, rehearsed for months. The mission aimed to gather intelligence during nuclear talks.

On a winter night, SEALs emerged from the sea near North Korea’s coast. A nuclear submarine deployed two mini-subs carrying eight commandos. Lacking real-time drone support, they relied on delayed satellite images. The shore appeared clear, but a North Korean boat emerged.

Mistaking civilians for security forces, the SEALs opened fire, killing two or three shellfish divers. “The point is to ensure that Congress isn’t kept in the dark when major stuff is going on,” said Matthew Waxman, a law professor, noting the Trump administration’s failure to notify Congress.

The SEALs sank the bodies, abandoned the device, and signaled for extraction. The submarine risked exposure, retrieving them in shallow waters. North Korea detected activity but made no public statement. The mission’s failure, hidden by secrecy, risked escalating tensions with a nuclear-armed state.

Military reviews justified the civilian deaths under engagement rules, claiming unforeseeable errors. The Trump administration withheld details from Congress, potentially violating federal law. Many involved SEALs were later promoted, despite concerns about Special Operations’ uneven track record.

The White House declined to comment. The classified 2019 SEAL Team 6 mission in North Korea, never acknowledged by the U.S. or North Korea, was revealed through interviews with twenty-four anonymous sources, including Trump administration officials and military personnel with direct knowledge.Their anonymity reflects the operation’s sensitivity.