US Navy Seals killed North Korean civilians during failed 2019 mission
text_fields
New York: A US mission to plant a spy device in North Korea failed in 2019 after a group of Navy SEAls carrying out the secret operation met with a North Korean fishing boat off the country’s shore, The New York Times revealed.
The SEAL Team 6's Red Squadron, which involved in cornering and killing Osama Bin Ladan, was tasked with the mission to intercept communications of dictator Kim Jong Un.
The risky mission, the failure of which could have either led to a hostage crisis or jeopardized nuclear negotiations, required direct approval of the US president.
President Trump had given a nod to the mission after he was set to meet Kim in Vietnam in February 2019.
However, President Trump on Friday claimed that ‘I don't know anything about it. I'd have to, I could look, but I know nothing about it.’
The SEALs spent several months preparing which involved rehearsing in freezing waters and was to be deployed from a nuclear-powered US submarine.
The US authorities used two stealth mini-subs or ‘wet subs’ to take the group to the North Korean coast.
The plan involved the SEALs riding for hours in frigid 4 degrees Celsius in scuba gear and heated suits.
Upon reaching the shore they were directed to plant the covert device and escape without being spotted by drones.
However, on reaching shore the SEALs unexpectedly detected a North Korean fishing boat in the darkness.
Unable to reaching out to the mission commander, a senior enlisted SEAL opened fire with others joining in, killing everyone aboard the fishing boat.
They pulled the bodies in water and punctured the victim’s lungs with knives to allow the bodies to sink.
It is reported that the three unarmed civilians diving for shellfish were killed in the operation; following the failure, the mission was later aborted.
The firing took place near where the US spy satellites had detected a surge in North Korean military activity.
No deal was reached at the Vietnam summit where Trump spoke to Kim and in May North Korea resumed missile tests.
