During his first term as president, Donald Trump reportedly approved a secret mission to send Navy SEALs into North Korea to plant surveillance devices targeting Kim Jong Un, but the plan collapsed in failure. According to the media reports, the soldiers killed several fishermen before escaping.
The alleged operation took place in 2019 as Trump was engaged in high-stakes negotiations with Kim over North Korea’s nuclear programme. While Trump was preparing for two summits with Kim in Vietnam, US military officials were working on a covert plan to deploy Navy SEALs to the North Korean coast. The mission was assigned to SEAL Team 6, the elite unit known for killing Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in 2011.
Months of preparation reportedly went into the operation, with rehearsals involving submarine infiltration of the North Korean coastline. The objective was to discreetly install devices that would provide intelligence on Kim’s activities and intentions. However, according to military officials cited in reports, the mission unravelled almost immediately after the team landed on a beach.
The SEALs had spent only a short time ashore when they spotted a small boat approaching. Believing it to be a North Korean naval vessel, the commandos opened fire. Three people on board were killed in the attack. It later emerged that the victims were fishermen, not military personnel.
Faced with the unintended killings and the risk of detection, the SEALs abandoned the mission and withdrew. The devices meant to spy on Kim were never installed. The US military moved quickly to conceal the episode, and according to reports, the incident remained covered up for years.
The White House has declined to comment on the matter, while sources suggest that the Trump administration never informed Congress or its intelligence oversight committees about the mission or its failure. Experts have noted that such an omission could constitute a violation of federal law.
Despite the extreme risks of inserting a SEAL team into North Korea, officials justified the plan on the grounds of growing concern over Pyongyang’s nuclear arsenal, which was believed to be advancing towards the capability of striking the United States. Gaining insight into Kim Jong Un’s intentions had been considered a priority from the beginning of Trump’s presidency.
The mission’s goal was to conceal surveillance equipment near Kim’s residence to gather intelligence. But when the unexpected boat appeared, the SEALs engaged, derailing the operation. In the end, the mission failed without achieving its purpose, leaving behind a trail of secrecy and unanswered questions.
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