Report: Navy SEALs Training for a Big Mission

According to a new report published Tuesday by the Australian News.com.au website, the same Navy SEAL team that killed Osama bin Laden is now training in South Korea for a mission to take out North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un.

The report states:

South Korean media claims the famed Seal Team 6—which killed Osama bin Laden in May 2011—is part of the Foal Eagle and Key Resolve exercise being carried out from March 7 to April 30 in South Korea.

While U.S. military would not confirm the reports, it said “ground, air, naval and special operations” are taking part in “several joint and combined field training operations” which involve up to 17,000 troops.

The special operations teams are thought to also include the Army Rangers, Delta Force and Green Berets. The training commenced one day after U.S. deployed its state-of-the art THAAD missile defense system to the region.

The participation of SEAL teams in joint operations exercises like Foal Eagle and Key Resolve is not uncommon. Special operations units would be key to the early stages of any large-scale military operation.

Technically, North and South Korea are still at war with one another. The Korean War ended only with a truce, not a peace agreement. And, with Kim conducting missile tests and nuclear detonations at an alarming rate since 2016, it may be only a matter of time before that truce is permanently broken.

President Donald Trump’s decision to immediately deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense—or THAAD—system to South Korea is in part a reaction to Kim’s saber rattling. On the other hand, the president has also been engaged in high-level discussions with other leaders in the region, particularly the leaders of South Korea, Japan and China.

Tuesday, the president tweeted:

I explained to the President of China that a trade deal with the U.S. will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem!

North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A.

But, Wednesday morning, he tweeted:

Had a very good call last night with the President of China concerning the menace of North Korea.

The president met for a working dinner Tuesday evening with “senior military officials,” according to the White House official schedule. It’s very likely North Korea and the training exercises underway in South Korea were hot topics in those conversations. {eoa}