• Trump claimed he knew "nothing" about a 2019 SEAL Team 6 mission in North Korea.
• A New York Times report suggested unarmed civilians were killed during the botched operation.
• The Pentagon declined to comment on the incident, which Trump supposedly approved.
• The SEALs retreated undetected after the mission failed.
• Trump seeks renewed dialogue with North Korea amidst ongoing diplomatic tensions.

President Donald Trump denied any prior knowledge of a classified 2019 SEAL Team 6 operation in North Korea, describing it as something he was "hearing ... for the first time." This response came during a press briefing in the Oval Office when reporters questioned him about the reported mission which allegedly resulted in the deaths of unarmed North Korean civilians, according to ABC News, Newsweek, and India Times.

The New York Times reported that the mission aimed to plant a device for intercepting communications from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un amid ongoing nuclear discussions between the U.S. and North Korea. Trump purportedly approved the operation, which involved SEAL Team 6 commandos fearfully opening fire on an approaching boat, believing they had been detected. Upon inspection, none of the individuals aboard were armed, resulting in an accidental killing of civilians who were believed to be diving for shellfish, as detailed in reports from ABC News, Newsweek, and India Times.

The Pentagon and U.S. Special Operations Command have not commented on the validity of the New York Times report. The sensitivity surrounding SEAL Team 6 operations often leads to limited disclosures from military officials, as highlighted by the lack of congressional notification regarding this particular mission. This incident underscores the complexities of U.S. covert operations against a backdrop of sensitive diplomatic negotiations with North Korea, according to ABC News and Newsweek.

Since his first administration, Trump has shown interest in diplomatic talks with North Korea, although recent attempts have met with limited progress, as North Korean officials have been less receptive compared to earlier engagement efforts. These dynamics might further complicate U.S. relations with the hermit nation, following the reported failure of the mission, which was a part of broader strategic interests during a highly charged period between the two countries, as reported by Newsweek and India Times.