[Shouting]
[Woman Vocalizing]
[Man] Sir, as of 0900 this morning...
Operation Sheet Lightning remains on schedule...
with the Eighth Fighter Wing and 18th Bomber Wing...
both reporting troop strengths at over 85%.
- [Vance] What's the deal with these estimates? - [Man] Sir?
- 10,000 U.S. Casualties? - 5,000 to 10,000. Yes, sir.
- 10,000 to 50,000 South Korean? - That's combined civilian-military.
Sir, it is what it is. These are good numbers.
Bullshit. We're taking out 90% of their artillery in the first 90 minutes.
- We factored that in, sir. - I can't take these numbers to the president.
- He'll shut us down. - Sir, we stand by these numbers.
Yeah, I heard you.
Bring me different ones.
- [Korean] - Okay!
Bobby, don't you say- [Grunts]
[Korean]
- What your mission? - I don't understand.
What your mission?
I don't understand what you're saying.
[Screams]
What... your mission?
No. No.
- Come on, man. - You Delta forces?
- Huh? - Delta? Screw those-
[Screams]
Today, I'm supposed to teach you about survival techniques... for torture.
But there's nothing I can say to you today...
that's gonna change things when and if you get captured by the enemy.
The Vietcong did their thing on me for three days.
They did things...
that were truly unimaginable, un-human.
If any of you...
should ever get captured by the enemy...
know this-
that I will be there with you.
Because you men are my brothers...
and I will never leave you alone.
[Woman Vocalizing]
[Groaning]
You, uh, Army Ranger?
- Black Hawk Ground? - Yeah.
I'm Black Hawk Ground.
- Black Hawk Ground? - Yeah.
I will never leave you.
Yeah, I'm Black Hawk Ground, you fucking pussy.
Pussy? What do you mean "pussy"?
Pussy. You pussy.
[Groaning]
What your mission?
[Groans]
[Screams, Cries]
American think we stupid? Huh?
You think we "savagy"?
I know how speak Englishy, Chinesy and renchy.
I study stupid university in Pyongyang.
I travel to Shanghai, study Mandarin.
You're a great man.
[Shouting In Korean]
[Korean]
[Men Shouting In Korean]
I told him that you are Lieutenant Robert James...
Navy SEALs Team 1.
[Laughing]
He said, if you are navy, then where is your boat?
[Laughing] Unny, huh?
We have a real problem, you and me.
You see, America sees two Koreas-
North and South.
- [Groans] - [Wood Creaking]
[Groans, Screams]
[Groans]
- [Gasping] - I apologize, Lieutenant. That must be very painful.
[Muffled Groaning]
[Man Speaking Korean]
Hwang here is very excited.
Delivering American soldiers to our Dear Leader...
would bring him and his men great rewards-
enough pork and beef for perhaps two months, maybe even more.
Maybe a letter of commendation from our Dear Leader.
[Korean]
You see...
Hwang here- He wants me to radio my commanders...
to tell them about his great discovery.
You see, America sees two Koreas.
We see only one.
We call her the "Land of the Morning Calm."
[Coughs]
Our Dear Leader tells us...
soon we will reunify under his great command.
So we wait and prepare for this day.
Yeah, well, that's never gonna happen.
- No? - No.
Maybe you are right.
Maybe you and I are not so different.
Yeah, well, your leader- He's fuckin' crazy.
[Laughing]
In my country, we are killed...
for saying such things about our leaders.
Yeah, well, in mine, it's pretty much national sport.
I am afraid that if our Dear Leader...
finds that there are Navy SEALs in the D.P.R.K...
that would give him enough reason for the reunification.
That'd be really stupid.
I think so too.
I am afraid that our Dear Leader...
thinks that we are more powerful than we really are.
I think people are afraid to tell him how hungry his soldiers are...
how old his equipment is.
- So? - So I think it is better that you die here...
without our Dear Leader ever knowing.
Don't you think so?
[Korean]
[Man Speaking Korean]
I told him to tell the villagers...
to say nothing about ever seeing you.
Better, no?
You see, I am... a good chingu.
Do you know what chingu means?
"Riends."
Riends with common interests.
[Korean]
We go to my command.
There you will tell me what I need to know.
Why haven't we heard from the North Koreans?
They may still be deciding what to ask for.
There's been no increased military activity-
not at Yongjiri, D.M.Z., Yongbyon- nothin'.
Likely they're looking for the Dear Leader. He goes missing from time to time.
- Mr. President. - Have you spoken to them?
- Yeah. - So?
So, here's what the South Koreans are saying.
If we execute the surgical strike at the missile site...
they believe the D.P.R.K. Will retaliate with artillery.
And their damage estimates are far greater than the Pentagon estimates-
as high as one million dead.
- They're utterly misguided. They- - Hold on, General.
What do they suggest?
I'll let the general take you through it, sir.
I'd just like to say up front that we had this scenario ourselves...
but we didn't think you'd abide our suggesting it.
The truth is, sir, in terms of allied casualty projections, they're-
Well, they're extremely positive, sir.
- Let's hear the plan, General. - Admiral.
Well, sir, it starts with an absolute naval blockade along the 37th parallel.
We're prepared to effect that any time tomorrow after 1200 hours.
[Vance] Then, Mr. President, the plan calls for...
a combined R.O.K. - U.S. Preemptive first strike-
a sudden massive and overwhelming barrage along the entire D.P.R.K. Line.
Artillery, air bases, supply depots, army bases.
We can get half their forces asleep in their barracks.
We could keep their MIGs from ever takin' off.
Probably could get another 20% of their ground force as they're approaching their tubes.
Any tubes we missed in the first Cruise strikes and -117 runs-
the South Koreans have Patriot batteries all along the line.
A second wave of sorties 90 minutes later...
would end the threat of artillery altogether.
We would make the missile sites and the nuclear research facilities...
secondary and tertiary targets.
Ellie. This is what the South Koreans proposed?
If it's this or a surgical strike...
which would leave the North Koreans...
entirely capable of a full-strength retaliation...
then, yes, they'd prefer preemptive attack.
It's a provocative strategy, sir, no question.
But, well-The allied casualty projections are the real draw.
- What are they? - We could reasonably project total allied casualties-
I'm talkin' combined U.S. And South Korean total dead-
1,000 to 3,000.
It'd all be over in a matter of hours, sir.
General, what are the enemy casualty projections?
Sir?
I truly believe our response is justified...
by North Korea deploying a nuclear I.C.B.M.
What are the projections, General?
Somewhere between 350,000 and 500,000 dead, sir.
Yeah.
Cam, Ellie- my office. Right now.
This-This thing is totally out of hand!
These num-Vance has been pushing Armageddon since the beginning.
- It's- - Oh. [Clears Throat] Excuse me.
I've gotta use the head.
You know what I love most about the navy, Mr. President?
[Sighs] What is that?
The boats go real slow.
[Clock Ticking]
[Men Shouting In Korean]
Mr. Ambassador, this proposal- this surprise attack- it's-
Does this represent the wishes of your government?
Mr. President...
3.5 million North Koreans have died from starvation in the last three years.
What has your nation done to grieve these deaths?
The casualties- The enemy casualties-
Mr. President, you give us only evils to choose from.
[Men Shouting In Korean]
Come. Come. Come. I want to show you something.
You know movie Taxi Rider?
Robert "Niro," "JoJo" Foster?
Taxi Rider. [Laughing]
[Korean]
[Men Shouting]
[Callaghan] I said get the fuck off me!
[Korean]
Taxi Rider. Yeah.
[Shouting In Korean]
Tell me about Taxi Rider. Jo-JoJo oster.
[Gunshots]
[Men Shouting]
Don't shoot! Please, don't shoot!
- Are you Robert James? - Yes.
This is Captain Chung Won Joon of the South Korean Task Force 121...
- [Gunfire Continues] - Bobby!
Our government has sent us to help you.
[Screams]
Would you like to come with us, sir?
- [Gunfire Continues] - That'd be real good.
Hey. See if you can get this thing goin'.
[Gunfire Continues]
[Korean]
It's not happening. No fuel.
Captain. I need that jeep.
My men. [Korean]
Shit!
[Men Shouting]
- I'm gonna go for the jeep. - That's a bad idea, Bobby.
What are we gonna do? We can't just stick here.
[Gunfire Continues]
- [Doors Slamming] - [Engine Starting]
- [Groaning] - [Men Shouting]
[Korean]
[Device Beeping]
- [Korean] - [Groaning]
[All Shouting]
Bobby! The wall!
- Bobby, it's a dead end. Back up! Back up! - I can see that, Neil!
Chingu.
[Screaming]
- Echo 7? - [James] Yes, sir!
Sir, I have two K.I.A.
And Callaghan- Well, sir, he's hurt pretty bad.
But, sir, there's something you need to pass on right away.
Mr. President.
I've got Commander Mackey on the line.
Lieutenant Bobby James is freed in North Korea...
and safe with South Korean Special forces.
Additionally, sir, Lieutenant James is reporting...
that at least some of his captors were Chieu Hoi.
- That's, um- - Vietnamese for "defectors."
- I know what it means, Admiral. I was there. - Beg your pardon, sir.
Ellie, I want you to hear this.
- Go ahead, Commander. - [Mackey] Sir.
Lieutenant James is asking permission to cross deck.
Uh, I was Army Ranger, not a sailor.
"Cross deck," sir, means to cross over and join the troops that have come to replace you.
Sir, he's asking to remount Operation Silent Night...
with the help of the South Korean Special Ops.
They think they can sabotage the missile site?
- That's absurd. - Vance.
- Admiral? - That is what he's saying, sir.
Okay, we need to get Ambassador Li in here.
Commander Mackey, how many men are there?
Six, including Lieutenant James.
I don't see a downside.
Excuse me.
Detection, loss of the initiative, element of surprise.
If the D.P.R.K. Central command doesn't know about the SEALs...
there's a chance they don't know we're coming for their missile.
- Mr. President, we've been down this road, sir. We can- - Vance.
I'm done talkin' about this.
Commander Mackey, permission granted.
And tell your man that, should he succeed...
he'll have the thanks of more than one grateful nation.
Yes, sir. We'll give it everything we've got.
[Mackey On Radio] Echo 7 Yankee.
- Mission status- Hilary. - Roger. Hilary.
- Report at 0400 prior to your assault. - Yes, sir.
Captain Chung, I am Ambassador Li Sung Park.
I am calling from the office of the president of the United States.
[Speaking Korean]
I have just received order to assist you in any way possible.
[Inhales] I guess we are-
how do you say- in business.
- In business. - Yes!
We gotta get rid of this taxi.
I must speak to my president now.
I wish our soldiers success, Mr. President.
I fear their actions will determine war or peace.
Mr. Ambassador, our nation thanks you for your actions here today.
[Door Closes]
I don't care what the president of South Korea's willing to do.
I'm not gonna authorize a preemptive full-scale assault on North Korea.
We'll give the SEALs 24 hours.
If they fail, we'll proceed with a surgical strike on the missile site.
I'm done talkin' about this.
- If we go that way, who's gonna tell the South Koreans? - They'll see it on CNN.
If the South Koreans are right, our strike could provoke a lethal counterattack.
If they come at us with everything, including W.M.D.'s...
we're talking 700,000 to a million South Koreans dead.
They won't do that.
They know we need to take this site out.
Unless they want us to attack...
so they can say we started this war.
- [Honks Horn] - [Tires Screeching]
- Now we go to missile? - I need you to get me to the hills above the village.
A few toys for our trip. Let's move out.
I got satellite photos of the missile site.
Oh. Look.
These are fan-fuckin'-tastic.
Fan-fucking-tastic?
[Laughing] I like this saying.
These workers- Why are they wearing these uniforms?
Oh. Prisoners. They are all political prisoners.
They work there until they die.
That way, no risk of D.P.R.K. Secrets ever leaving.
- What about the ones that don't die? - Eventually they all die.
Fortunately for Kim Jong II...
there is no shortage of new political prisoners in North Korea.
All along the perimeter, there's double bands of razor wire...
plus guards every 50 meters.
Except here. No fences at the mouth of valley...
because of these cliffs.
- Okay. Well, can the truck take us there? - No.
- Looks like we're gonna have to climb then. - Mm-hmm.
[Speaking Korean]
[Sighs]
[Vehicle Approaching]
Chung, I gotta radio in brevity code so they don't assume we've been compromised.
Sure. [Speaking Korean]
Want to try this?
[Shouting]
[Donkey Braying]
[Braying]
[Gunshots]
[Thunder Rumbling]
Come on. Let's go.
[Woman Vocalizing]
- There's no way that I'm lettin' you- - You're not comin' with me, Neil.
Sorry.
[Exhales]
[Vocalizing Continues]
[Man] Echo 7 Yankee, do you copy?
Echo 7 Yankee, come in.
[James] All right. They're still fueling the missile. That's good.
There's light guard on the bunker.
Soldiers must still be in their barracks.
[Man On Radio] Jinhae, this is Kunsan 230.
Your signal is strong. Good check.
Continue beacon at constant interval.
[Man #2] Roger, Kunsan. Maintaining current signal strength.
[Man #3] Jinhae, this is the USS Ronald Reagan.
Continuing signal sweep. No signals reported. Over.
[Man #1] Ronald Reagan, Jinhae. Appreciate the help, sir.
Henry, this plan of yours is gonna get people hurt.
What's your status?
We're waiting for contact from Lieutenant James.
[Chatter Continues On Radio]
He's overdue.
I'm shuttin' you down, bud.
Norman, for God's sake, give it a chance.
Just give it 10 more minutes.
You guys ready?
[Speaking Korean]
[Chattering Continues]
[Generator Whirring]
[Men Laughing, Chattering]
[Generator Sputters, Stops]
[Whirring]
[Speaking Korean]
[Man] Echo 7 Yankee, come in.
- Echo 7 Yankee, do you copy? - Come on. Come on.
[Men Speaking Korean]
[Korean]
[Silenced Gunshot]
Okay.
[Speaking Korean]
Prisoners.
Tell 'em they're free to go. They got to get outta here now.
[Chung Speaking Korean]
Admiral, General Vance tells me we may have lost track of Operation Silent Night.
- That's correct, sir. - What does that mean?
I'm afraid we-
We have to assume that they have been compromised.
[Speaking Korean]
[Korean]
He say, "Thank you for my freedom."
Fight? You want to fight alongside us?
Okay.
[Speaking Korean]
American Navy SEAL!
- [Korean] - No!
[Korean]
Let's get the hell outta here now. Come on. Let's get outta here.
American Navy SEAL. You come.
- You come! - [Gunshot]
[Man Speaking Korean]
- [Korean] - [Stammering]
I know, if you do not succeed here...
things will only get worse for my country.
[Man Speaking Korean]
Tell your president that we are not all ignorant peasants here in Korea.
- [Stammering] - [Korean]
All right, let's get the hell outta here. Now. Come on.
[Korean]
Come on.
They're on their own. We can't do any more for them.
[All Shouting]
[Shouting Continues]
Mr. President, if we're gonna make our window, we have to put...
the B-2s at Okinawa and the -117s at Jinhae in the air right now.
Very well.
Okinawa and Jinhae are "go."
Jinhae, Okinawa, you are "go."
Eighteenth Bomber Wing, you are "go."
[Man On Radio] ...cleared for takeoff.
- Requesting priority clearance Runway 275. - Go, Okinawa. Go.
Tucson, Eighth Fighter Wing is a "go."
[Overlapping Radio Communications]
- Jinhae launching and away. - Roger, Okinawa. Launching and away.
- [Gunfire] - Move!
[Shouting In Korean]
[Man On Radio] Roger, Okinawa. On course. Proceeding north 270.
Initializing target-acquisition software.
[Man On Radio] Jinhae 17 moving into attack formation.
[Gunfire Continues]
[Shouting]
Chung!
Okay! [Speaking Korean]
There are too many of them at the bunker.
- No matter what, hold them here. - Right!
[Korean]
Sir, the first wave breaks North Korean airspace in nine minutes.
Past this point, the squadron needs a "go forward" order.
- So ordered. - Oscar 20.
- "Go" order is affirmed. - Roger that, CENTCOM.
Proceeding on course. Crossing hostile territory in 0847.
[Gunfire Continues]
[Shouting]
[Beeping]
- Chung! Get your men! Let's go! - They're dead!
Watch out!
Sir, the first squad penetrates hostile airspace in 45 seconds.
The tanker should have blown the bunker.
Hold on.
[People Screaming]
[Overlapping Radio Transmissions]
[Man] Mr. President.
[Man On Radio] Initializing weapon systems. Safety off.
[Beeping]
Get new orders to all pilots in Operation Sheet Lightning!
Brevity code Allison. All elements stand down. All pilots return to base.
Echo 20. Echo 20. Brevity code Allison.
Stand down. I repeat- Stand down.
[Man On Radio] Roger that, CENTCOM. Aborting approach.
Man, that was close.
- [Chattering] - [Man] Sir, our boys have done it.
- Neil! You good? - Yeah.
Yeah, you were making quite a racket up there.
I was just tryin' to get some sleep.
Better hold on. It's gonna get bumpy.
- You wanted to see me, sir? - Come on in, Barnes.
If I can drop you here, can you get a rubber-duck exfil team...
two kilometers up the Tumen River from the Sea of Japan?
With resupply tanks...
you bet your ass we could, sir.
So, how would you and your boys like to go get your L.T.?
[Woman Vocalizing]
Spaz.
- Meideros and Shultiess, they- - We know.
We couldn't- I- I wanted-
Bobby. We know.
[Vocalizing Continues]
I'm sorry to keep you waiting, General.
- Please sit down. - Thank you, Mr. President.
This nation owes you a debt of gratitude, Norman.
You've had a long... and a distinguished career.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Norman.
I'm relieving you of your command.
Will the defendant approach?
You wanted to see me, sir.
You've been invited to the White House, Lieutenant.
The president wants to give you a commendation.
Me, sir?
I should be at that tribunal with Callaghan.
Yeah, well, you're going to the White House instead.
It's a classified meeting. You understand?
No invited guests.
It's the Oval Office.
Just you and the president.
You can take one witness there.
One guy?
Master Chief Petty Officer Neil T. Callaghan...
this tribunal has reached its verdict.
On your feet, Master Chief.
- Lieutenant James. - Yes, sir.
It's a pleasure to meet you.
- Come in. Sit down. - Thank you, sir.
On the Article 15 charge of striking an officer...
we find the defendant guilty as charged...
and sentence him to one year in the Naval Consolidated Brig at Miramar.
Sir? The lieutenant's witness is here.
Send him in.
[Woman Vocalizing]
On the Article 90 charge of disobeying a lawful order...
we find the defendant guilty...
and sentence him to 10 years at NAVCONBRIG Miramar.
Lieutenant Robert James...
for service to your country...
I am proud to present you with the Distinguished Service Cross.
Does the prisoner have anything he'd like to say?
No, sir.
Very well.
By executive order...
the transcripts of this tribunal are classified top secret.
The record of these charges are to be expunged from your permanent record...
and your sentence is commuted to time served.
You're free to go, Master Chief.
[Vocalizing Continues]
I never seen anybody swallow more puke on one of my planes than you, Bobby James.
- You saw that? - [Chuckles]
Why didn't you ever red tag me?
Because I never saw anybody who wanted to be a Navy SEAL bad as you.
You know, Master Chief...
what you taught me, what you trained me to do-
You saved my life over there, sir.
Come on, son. [Pats Shoulder]
[Woman Reporter] High-ranking U.S. Officials...
attempting to explain the cause of a large mushroom cloud...
first seen over North Korea on Sunday...
are raising more questions than answers.
The mushroom cloud was first detected Sunday...
in satellite images by South Korean media...
indicating the cloud was approximately four kilometers...
at the border area between North Korea and China in Yanggang Province.
Pyongyang initially denied that any explosion had occurred...
but later reversed themselves, linking the explosion...
to a hydroelectric dam project.
In the U.S., several high-ranking officials...
were unusually quick to accept Pyongyang's explanation...
or offered differing explanations of their own.
National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice told CNN yesterday...
"There are all kinds of reports, and there are all kinds of assessments that are going on.
Maybe it was a forest fire of some kind."
When the stories broke over the weekend...
about some explosion taking place in North Korea...
my instincts told me it was not a nuclear explosion.
As you know, the North Koreans announced today...
that they were doing some demolition work for a hydroelectric project...
and they're inviting visiting foreign officials-
especially from the United Kingdom- to visit the site.
However, upon their return, the diplomats told reporters...
that, according to the satellite images...
they had been taken to the wrong position-
about 100 kilometers from the suspected explosion site.
Today, the story took another curious turn...
as the South Korean Vice Minister of Unification, Rhee Bong-jo...
released a statement claiming that there was no explosion...
stating the supposed mushroom cloud...
was a natural cloud formation.
Perhaps the most troubling theory put forth to explain the large cloud...
is that a foreign state may have incurred into North Korea...
to conduct a clandestine military operation.
This theory took on greater potential for being accurate...
when it was discovered today that the explosion occurred...
near the site of Yongjiri Missile Base...
a secret facility thought to have an underground missile-firing system...
and which is also suspected to contain...
part of the D.P.R.K.'s uranium-enrichment program.
Mee Yong Chae, Korea News International, Seoul.