Retired General Paul LaCamera Warns Against OPCON Transfer

Retired General Paul LaCamera, former commander of U.S. Forces Korea, warned that transferring wartime operational control (OPCON) to South Korea could result in a suboptimal combined command structure. Speaking at an online symposium organized by the Institute for Corean-American Studies on Wednesday, LaCamera stated that the outcome of the transfer would likely be driven by political compromise rather than military expediency.

LaCamera emphasized that the Republic of Korea military must address internal cultural issues before it can assume greater responsibility for the defense against North Korea. He suggested that these internal shortcomings could undermine the effectiveness of the command structure if the transfer proceeds without necessary reforms.