Washington:South Korea and the United States are planning to reschedule their high-level defense dialogue until after the U.S. midterm elections, informed sources revealed. The annual Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), typically held in early November, is expected to be delayed.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the allies have reached an agreement to postpone the SCM, largely due to the U.S. midterm elections scheduled for November 3. The meeting will be hosted by Washington this year.
This delay occurs amidst a perceived gap between Seoul and Washington regarding the timing of the U.S.' handover of wartime operational control (OPCON) to South Korea. Seoul aims to regain wartime OPCON before the end of President Lee Jae Myung's term in 2030, or possibly as early as next year. However, Washington has expressed concerns about accelerating the transition due to political considerations.
A source mentioned that the U.S. has raised the need to reschedule the meeting due to the midterm elections and other factors. Another source confirmed that both nations agree on delaying the talks.
The SCM is a vital bilateral defense dialogue where top defense officials from both countries discuss a range of alliance and security issues, including defense strategy and joint military readiness, primarily focusing on deterring North Korea. The South Korean defense ministry stated it is coordinating with the U.S. to find a mutually convenient date, although no specifics have been finalized.
The Chosun Ilbo reported that the meeting is likely postponed to December, amid concerns that Seoul may not meet its goal of advancing the OPCON transition. The allies are currently assessing the "full operational capability" (FOC) after validating the "initial operational capability" (IOC). Seoul plans to complete the FOC certification and announce a target year for OPCON transition at the upcoming SCM before moving to the final phase, which could take about a year.
The JoongAng Ilbo noted that Washington remains firm on its stance that Seoul is not yet ready for the FOC certification, complicating Seoul's push for a faster OPCON transition. The defense ministry confirmed all joint evaluations scheduled for this year are complete and that preparations for the FOC certification are ongoing.
Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul, speaking to Yonhap, acknowledged existing "different perspectives" over the OPCON transition but emphasized the importance of trust, stating there are no major disagreements. Kang confirmed ongoing discussions to meet with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the upcoming ADMM Plus defense ministers' meeting in the Philippines.