US Justice Department subpoenas New York Times freelancer over North Korea story, paper says

The US Justice Department subpoenaed New York Times freelancer Matthew Cole in February, seeking over two years of notes and testimony.

The subpoena is part of a probe into the sourcing of a 2025 story about a botched US military operation in North Korea.

The story, co-written by Cole, detailed how Navy SEALs killed unarmed North Koreans during a mission to plant a listening device.

The New York Times supports Cole's decision to publicize the subpoena, which the government tried to keep secret.

The newspaper is paying for Cole's legal representation.