US special forces killed North Korean civilians in botched 2019 mission, NYT says

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SEOUL (Reuters) -U.S. Navy SEALs shot and killed a number of North Korean civilians during a botched covert mission to plant a listening device in the nuclear-armed country during high-stakes diplomatic negotiations in 2019, the New York Times reported on Friday.

Citing unidentified sources, including current and former military officials with knowledge of the still-classified details, the newspaper said President Donald Trump approved the operation during his first administration, as he was involved in historic talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

“I don’t know anything about it. I’m hearing it now for the first time,” Trump told reporters on Friday when asked about the report. 

The civilians appeared to be diving for shellfish when they inadvertently came across the detachment of SEALs as they splashed ashore at night, the Times reported. The American forces opened fire, killing all those aboard the small fishing vessel, the report said, without specifying the number of casualties.

A classified Pentagon review later concluded the killings were justified under the rules of engagement, the report said.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report.

Since Trump’s last summit with Kim in 2019, talks have fallen apart and North Korea has forged ahead with its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program.

U.S. Senator Mark Warner, top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, said he could not confirm or deny anything in the New York Times report but said: “if there’s ever a time that we need Congress to do its appropriate oversight, it’s now.”

(Reporting by Josh Smith; additional reporting by David Shepardson in Alexandria, Virginia editing by Alexandra Hudson, David Gregorio and Alistair Bell)