President Donald Trump stated on Friday that he was unaware of a 2019 classified SEAL Team 6 mission in North Korea, as reported by the New York Times, in which unarmed North Korean civilians were killed during an aborted operation.
The Pentagon and U.S. Special Operations Command declined to comment to ABC News about The New York Times report.
ABC News has not confirmed the details in the report.
Speaking to reporters from the Oval Office on Friday, Trump was asked by a reporter: “Can you confirm that it happened?”
“I don’t know anything about it. I’m hearing it now for the first time,” he responded.
According to the New York Times, the account stems from interviews with “two dozen people,” including civilian government officials and military personnel, both current and former, connected to the mission who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The report claims that Trump had approved the mission.
It was outlined by the Times that the SEAL Team 6 commandos were tasked with installing a device to “allow the United States to intercept the communications of North Korea’s secretive leader, Kim Jong-un, while high-stakes nuclear negotiations with President Trump were ongoing.”
The Times reported that the SEALs, fearing detection by a North Korean boat that was heading towards them, opened fire, killing all on board.
Upon further examination, it was found that none of those aboard the boat were armed. The Times noted that evidence indicated the crew consisted of two or three civilians who were likely diving for shellfish, according to those briefed on the mission.
The SEALs made it back to their large nuclear-powered submarine nearby and fled the North Korean coast undetected, according to the Times.
No one in the Trump administration informed Congress of the botched mission, the account said.
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