South Korea and U.S. Aim to Set OPCON Transfer Date
Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul announced that South Korea and the U.S. intend to establish a target year for wartime operational control transfer by late 2026.
South Korean Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul announced that Seoul and Washington are working to complete the second-stage verification of wartime operational control (OPCON) and establish a target handover year by the end of 2026. During a National Assembly audit on October 26, Kang stated that the allies intend to finalize the full operational capability (FOC) assessment and discuss the timeline during their annual Security Consultative Meeting in December.
The transfer depends on three conditions: South Korea's ability to lead combined defense operations, the allies' capacity to counter North Korean nuclear and missile threats, and a stable security environment. While General Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, suggested that North Korea's evolving military capabilities might necessitate a reassessment of these standards, Kang maintained that the three conditions remain the basic framework.
Beyond the command transfer, the two nations are discussing alternative airfields to accommodate American reinforcements. This follows the relocation of Gwangju Air Base, which is being repurposed for a semiconductor cluster. Lawmaker Kim Byung-joo of the Democratic Party of Korea has urged the government to move beyond conditions and nail down a definite timeframe during the December meeting.
