In an incident involving US Navy SEALs during a failed mission, several North Korean fishermen were mistakenly killed, as reported by a major American news outlet.
The operation took place amid delicate diplomatic talks between the United States and North Korea. Special forces were tasked with sneaking ashore in North Korea to install a surveillance device covertly. However, the mission went awry when SEALs encountered North Korean fishermen—who were reportedly fishing for shellfish—near the coast under the cover of darkness and, mistaking them for threats, opened fire, leading to fatalities.
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Multiple sources within the government, military personnel, and the first Trump administration confirmed the incident to the Times on the condition of anonymity due to the classified nature of the mission. Some sources indicated their motivation to disclose the information was an absence of transparency regarding the US military’s failures in special operations. The SEALs concealed the bodies of the deceased fishermen to avoid detection by North Korean authorities.
When questioned by the press about the report on the day of its release, President Trump denied any awareness of the operation.
“I could look, but I know nothing about it,” Trump commented.
“I’m hearing it now for the first time,” he added.
It remains unclear whether North Korea has pieced together the events that unfolded in 2019. No public statements from North Korea have been made concerning the civilian fatalities, and no official comments have been issued in response to the Times’ report.
