Who: US Navy SEALs (reported to be SEAL Team 6). When: early 2019. Where: off the coast of North Korea. What: a covert operation to install a listening device. Result: the mission reportedly ended with the deaths of several North Korean civilians and allegations that bodies were concealed, according to a New York Times investigation reported by multiple outlets.
Key Takeaways
- A New York Times investigation says a 2019 covert SEAL Team 6 operation to plant a listening device in North Korea ended after US operators encountered local fishermen and opened fire.
- The report says several North Korean civilians who were reportedly diving for shellfish were killed; the Times did not give an exact casualty figure.
- Sources told the Times that personnel disposed of the bodies at sea and allegedly damaged them to ensure they sank.
- Several sources said President Donald Trump approved the mission; Trump has denied prior knowledge when asked about the report.
- US officials say it is unclear whether North Korean authorities ever discovered what happened in 2019; North Korea has not commented publicly on the story.
Verified Facts
The New York Times reported on 5–6 September 2025 that interviews with current and former US officials, civilian government sources and military personnel form the basis of its account of the 2019 operation. Multiple people interviewed spoke on condition of anonymity, citing the mission’s classified status.
According to the reporting, the operation was carried out by SEAL Team 6 and aimed to place an electronic listening device ashore in North Korea while diplomatic talks between Washington and Pyongyang were underway in early 2019. The account describes blackout communications and nighttime movement preceding the encounter with civilians.
The Times report says SEALs fired after accidentally encountering a small fishing vessel and that several people aboard were killed. The newspaper also reports that some participants later described moving bodies into the water and, in some accounts, puncturing bodies to ensure they sank.
President Donald Trump is reported by the Times to have given final approval for the mission during his first term. When reporters asked him about the publication, Trump said he was hearing details for the first time and denied prior knowledge.
Context & Impact
If accurate, the incident would represent a rare public allegation of US special operations causing civilian deaths inside North Korean territory. Operations of this nature are tightly controlled and typically classified, which complicates independent verification.
Potential impacts include:
- Diplomatic risk: revelations about lethal covert activity could affect US negotiations with North Korea and third‑party relations.
- Operational scrutiny: the report may prompt reviews of mission approval processes, rules of engagement and oversight for special operations.
- Public and legal questions: allegations about how bodies were handled and about presidential approval raise accountability and policy questions for Congress and the Pentagon.
“I could look, but I know nothing about [it]. I’m hearing it now for the first time.”
Donald J. Trump, as quoted by media on 5–6 Sept 2025
Unconfirmed
- The exact number of civilians killed has not been published by the Times or corroborated by independent sources.
- Allegations that team members punctured victims’ lungs to make bodies sink come from anonymous accounts and have not been independently verified.
- Whether North Korean authorities became aware of the incident in 2019 remains unclear.
- Specific operational orders and internal US military findings, if any exist, have not been made public.
Bottom Line
The New York Times’ report presents serious allegations about a 2019 SEAL Team 6 operation that, if confirmed, would raise legal, ethical and operational questions about US covert activities near North Korea. Key claims remain unverified in public records. Expect follow-up reporting, potential requests for congressional oversight and statements from US defense officials as reporters and lawmakers seek corroboration and official responses.
Sources
- The New York Times — reporting as described in public coverage (5–6 Sept 2025).
- Al Jazeera English — summary coverage and republishing of the Times report (6 Sept 2025).