Secret Operation Goes Wrong: How a 2019 Mission Turned Deadly
A bombshell New York Times report reveals that Donald Trump personally approved a secret Navy SEAL mission into North Korea in early 2019 that resulted in the deaths of unarmed North Korean civilians. The classified operation, designed to plant surveillance equipment to monitor Kim Jong Un’s communications, collapsed in deadly fashion when SEAL Team 6 encountered local fishermen.
The mission’s failure highlights critical flaws in high-risk military operations and raises serious questions about congressional oversight of covert actions during the Trump presidency.
The High-Stakes Plan Behind Enemy Lines
Mission Parameters and Objectives
SEAL Team 6’s Red Squadron spent months rehearsing for what military officials described as an extraordinarily complex operation. According to multiple news sources, the plan involved:
- Nuclear submarine deployment: A nuclear-powered submarine would slip into North Korean waters
- Mini-submarine insertion: Two smaller subs would deploy from the main vessel
- Shore infiltration: Eight SEALs would swim to shore and plant electronic surveillance devices
- Stealth extraction: The team would escape undetected after completing the mission
The operation aimed to address what intelligence officials called a “blind spot” in U.S. surveillance of North Korea’s leadership communications.
Presidential Authorization Required
Due to the extreme risks involved, the mission required direct presidential approval. Reports indicate Trump gave the final go-ahead just before the team entered the communications blackout zone near North Korean shores.
When Everything Went Wrong
The Fatal Encounter
The carefully planned mission unraveled when SEALs spotted a small North Korean boat near their insertion point. According to detailed reporting, the sequence of events was:
- Initial contact: The SEALs observed people on the boat using flashlights and talking
- Threat assessment: Believing they had been discovered by North Korean security forces
- Deadly response: The team opened fire, killing all occupants
- Grim discovery: Upon inspection, the victims were unarmed civilians diving for shellfish
- Mission abort: The SEALs retrieved the bodies and aborted the operation
Contributing Factors to the Tragedy
Several operational challenges contributed to the deadly mistake:
- Communications blackout: SEALs couldn’t contact their submarine commander for guidance
- Limited surveillance: No real-time drone coverage due to stealth requirements
- Equipment limitations: Night-vision goggles couldn’t detect the fishermen in cold-water wetsuits
- High stress environment: Split-second decisions in enemy territory
Cover-Up and Congressional Oversight Issues
Classified Reviews and Justification
Following the incident, military investigators conducted classified reviews. Reports indicate that Pentagon officials concluded the killings were justified under engagement rules, classifying the deaths as “unfortunate occurrences” that couldn’t have been foreseen.
Columbia University law professor Matthew Waxman, who served in national security roles under President George W. Bush, told reporters: “The point is to ensure that Congress isn’t kept in the dark when major stuff is going on. This is exactly the kind of thing that would normally be briefed to the committees.”
Legal and Oversight Concerns
The Trump administration’s failure to notify key congressional committees may have violated federal law requiring disclosure of significant covert operations. This lack of transparency prevented proper oversight of a mission that:
- Killed innocent civilians
- Failed to achieve its objectives
- Potentially compromised future operations
- Violated established notification protocols
Diplomatic Context and Timing
High-Stakes Nuclear Negotiations
The mission occurred during a critical period in U.S.-North Korea relations. Trump and Kim Jong Un were engaged in unprecedented diplomatic talks, including:
- The June 2018 Singapore summit
- The February 2019 Hanoi summit (weeks after the failed mission)
- The June 2019 Panmunjom border meeting
The covert operation’s timing, just before the Hanoi summit, created a dangerous contradiction between public diplomacy and secret military action.
Accountability and Consequences
Career Advancement Despite Failure
Perhaps most troubling, several officials involved in the failed mission were later promoted, raising questions about accountability within special operations command.
Pattern of Risky Operations
Military sources told the Times that SEAL operations often suffer from overly complex planning that increases failure risk. One official noted: “Among some in the military who have worked with them, the SEALs have a reputation for devising overly bold and complex missions that go badly.”
What This Means for Military Oversight
The Need for Transparency
This incident demonstrates the critical importance of congressional oversight in military operations. When covert missions go wrong, the public deserves accountability, especially when civilian lives are lost.
Lessons for Future Operations
The failed mission highlights several key issues:
- Communication protocols: Better real-time communication capabilities needed
- Intelligence gathering: More comprehensive pre-mission surveillance required
- Rules of engagement: Clearer guidelines for civilian encounters
- Congressional notification: Proper oversight mechanisms must be followed
Moving Forward: Demands for Accountability
The revelation of this classified operation raises urgent questions about military accountability and democratic oversight. Congress must investigate not only this specific mission but also the broader patterns of special operations planning and execution.
American taxpayers fund these operations, and when they result in civilian deaths and mission failures, the public deserves full transparency and accountability.
What You Can Do: Contact your representatives and demand proper oversight of military operations. Democratic accountability requires citizen engagement and congressional vigilance over classified activities that affect international relations and human lives.
