Seoul:The transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) from the United States to South Korea could remain unattainable if the required conditions continue to change, a spokesperson from South Korea's defense ministry stated on Thursday. This comment seems to be in response to recent remarks by the chief of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) that the "conditions have changed."
According to Yonhap News Agency, Chung Bin-na, the defense ministry spokesperson, expressed that the goal of transferring operational control would never be met if the criteria remain in flux. She emphasized that this was her personal viewpoint and clarified that the official stance of the ministry is that South Korea and the U.S. are coordinating the matter based on previously agreed conditions.
Chung's remarks follow comments made by USFK commander Gen. Xavier Brunson, who highlighted that conditions have evolved, suggesting that the allies must now adhere to "new standards." This comes amid concerns about differing timelines between Seoul and Washington regarding the OPCON transfer.
South Korea aims to reclaim wartime OPCON from the U.S. before the end of President Lee Jae Myung's five-year term in 2030, possibly as soon as next year. However, Washington has shown reluctance to expedite the transition due to political factors.
Chung refrained from commenting directly on Gen. Brunson's statements, indicating it would be inappropriate to directly address the USFK commander's comments. She reaffirmed that the principle remains unchanged the transfer will occur when mutually agreed conditions are satisfied. The allies are working to reconcile their differences ahead of the upcoming Security Consultative Meeting (SCM).
While the exact date for this high-level defense dialogue has not been set, it is expected to occur in Washington. Reports have suggested that the meeting may be delayed until after the U.S. midterm elections on November 3, although it is usually held in late October or early November.