Seoul: The target year for South Korea regaining wartime operational control (OPCON) from the United States will be proposed to the presidents of both countries at the end of this year, Seoul's defense chief said Sunday. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back made the remarks in an interview with broadcaster KBS, as President Lee Jae Myung's administration has sought to complete the transfer within Lee's term, which ends in 2030.
According to Yonhap News Agency, discussions on the verification of full operational capability (FOC) will take place with the U.S. defense secretary at the Security Consultative Meeting in November. Based on these discussions, a proposal will be made to both presidents, and the year for wartime OPCON recovery will be decided. The allies are in the process of verifying the FOC, which is the second part of a three-phase program aimed at vetting Seoul's capabilities to lead the allies' combined forces.
South Korea handed over operational control of its troops to the U.S.-led U.N. Command during the 1950-53 Korean War. It was later transferred to the allies' Combined Forces Command when the command was launched in 1978. South Korea retook peacetime OPCON in 1994, but the U.S. still retains control of Korean forces in the event of war.
When asked about possible differences between the allies on the timing of the transfer, Ahn noted that there could be differences in opinion. He emphasized that even close partners can have different views, highlighting the importance of ongoing communication between the allies to address such differences.
Meanwhile, Ahn stated that South Korea is advancing its nuclear-powered submarine project, noting that the country possesses all the necessary conditions to build one, except for the nuclear fuel. He mentioned seeking cooperation and support from the U.S. side for low-enriched uranium enriched to less than 20 percent. Despite the lack of a formal agreement between Seoul and Washington to build the submarine in South Korea, Ahn indicated that Seoul has consistently maintained the need to build such vessels domestically.