US Navy Seals forced to kill three North Korean fishermen in botched mission to plant spying device

The covert mission, personally authorised by then-President Donald Trump, ended in disaster when the special forces encountered civilians unexpectedly.

The SEALs opened fire on the fishing vessel, killing all occupants to preserve operational secrecy.

The highly classified operation occurred during sensitive nuclear negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang.

Neither government has publicly acknowledged the incident, which remains under strict secrecy protocols despite emerging details from military and government sources interviewed by the newspaper.

The operation deployed the same unit responsible for eliminating Osama bin Laden, utilising a 220-metre nuclear-powered submarine to approach North Korean territorial waters under cover of darkness.

Eight operatives transferred to two 10-metre mini-submarines that exposed them to freezing seawater temperatures of approximately four to five degrees Celsius.

The commandos wore specialised suits and diving equipment whilst navigating towards the coastline.

Their objective involved installing newly-developed electronic devices to intercept the North Korean leader's communications, providing crucial intelligence during the diplomatic talks.

The mission represented an alternative to traditional human intelligence gathering, which proved nearly impossible within the hermetic dictatorship.

Air surveillance drones could not be deployed due to North Korea's defensive systems, forcing reliance on the high-risk maritime approach.

The fishermen were diving for shellfish when they inadvertently encountered the American forces near the shore.

Upon spotting the operatives, the North Korean civilians directed lights towards them, triggering an immediate lethal response from the SEALs.

The commandos swiftly eliminated all occupants of the fishing vessel to prevent detection and mission compromise.

Following the killings, they stabbed the victims' lungs with knives, ensuring the corpses would sink and remain undiscovered.

Intelligence assessments had incorrectly predicted no maritime activity during the operational window, despite months of surveillance studying local fishing patterns.

This miscalculation proved fatal for the civilians who appeared at the worst possible moment, transforming a clandestine intelligence operation into a deadly encounter that ultimately forced the mission's abandonment

.American satellites detected substantial North Korean troop movements following the incident, though Pyongyang issued no formal statement. The extent of North Korean knowledge regarding the operation remains uncertain.

A subsequent classified Pentagon assessment determined the killings fell within established rules of engagement. The operation bypassed congressional intelligence and military oversight committees, with details remaining undisclosed even afterwards.

When questioned about the revelations on Friday, Trump stated: "I don't know anything about it. I'm hearing it now for the first time."

The White House declined to provide commentary on the report.

Senator Mark Warner, the Intelligence Committee's senior Democrat, whilst unable to confirm the report's specifics, emphasised: "if there's ever a time that we need Congress to do its appropriate oversight, it's now."

The Pentagon has not responded to requests for comment regarding the investigation's findings.