Trump claims ignorance regarding the alleged unsuccessful SEAL Team 6 operation in North Korea

The New York Times has published an account of a secret 2019 SEAL Team 6 mission in North Korea, a report that has since sparked controversy and raised questions about the involvement of then-President Donald Trump.

According to the report, the mission aimed to plant a device to intercept North Korea's reclusive leader, Kim Jong-un's communications. The operation, however, was an aborted one.

The mission involved unarmed North Korean civilians, specifically a boat manned by individuals diving for shellfish, the Times reported. During the encounter, the SEAL team opened fire and killed all aboard the boat, according to the account.

Upon inspection, it was found that none of the people in the boat were armed. President Donald Trump, when asked by a reporter if he could confirm the mission, responded that he didn't know anything about it.

The account in The New York Times was based on the testimonies of "two dozen people," including government officials, members of the first Trump administration, and military personnel. These sources spoke to The New York Times anonymously.

Notably, no one in the Trump administration informed Congress of the botched mission, the account said. The Pentagon and U.S. Special Operations Command declined to comment on the reported mission to ABC News.

ABC News has not confirmed the details in the report, but the story has generated significant discussion and debate. The Times' report adds to the ongoing conversation about the actions taken by the Trump administration during its tenure.

This article was contributed to by ABC News' Cindy Smith, Anne Flaherty, and Luke Barr. It is important to note that all facts presented here are based on the information provided in the original New York Times report.