Covert Ops & Washington’s Contingency Plans for North Korea
by Nile Bowie
As the long-standing tensions between Washington and Pyongyang remain enflamed, a media report accusing South Korean and US Special Forces of parachuting into North Korea to spy on underground military facilities has sparked further controversy. Journalist David Axe attended the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference in Florida, and claims to have heard Army Brigade General Neil Tolley discussing the difficulties of conducting human surveillance operations in North Korea, while speaking in the present tense, referring to current operations. Axe’s story “U.S. Commandos Spy on North Korea” was pulled from The Diplomat, which later posted a clarification suggesting that Tolley was referring to future plans, rather than current operations. Washington has vehemently denied these allegations and has accused Axe of fabricating the quotes. Brigade General Neil Tolley has since reviewed his presentation at the Special Forces Industry Conference and claims that he was “accurately quoted” by David Axe of The Diplomat.
Recommended Articles:
Pentagon to Axe: You’re Right, War Is Boring, March 29, 2012
Clarification on North Korea, The Diplomat, March 29, 2012
Context of the Korean Special Forces Story, War is Boring, March 28, 2012
US, South Korea soldiers parachute into North Korea for spying: Cmdr. PressTV, March 29, 2012