The defense chiefs of South Korea and the United States met in Washington to talk about transferring wartime operational control from the US to Seoul and South Korea’s interest in acquiring nuclear-powered submarines. South Korea aims to regain wartime operational control by 2028, before the end of President Trump’s term. However, differences have surfaced on the timeline for the transfer, with suggestions that it might extend beyond Trump’s presidency.
The discussions also touched on a recent incident where two unidentified flying objects were linked to an explosion on a South Korean cargo vessel. South Korea had handed over operational control of its forces to the US-led UN Command during the Korean War, but wartime operational command still remains with the US. Conditions for the transfer include South Korea’s ability to lead combined forces, its strike and air defense capabilities, and a conducive regional security environment.
In their previous meeting, the defense chiefs agreed to expedite the conditions for the operational control transfer. They might also address South Korea’s stance on naval assistance in the Middle East and its review of a US proposal for a coalition ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The talks are expected to cover South Korea’s plans to build nuclear-powered submarines, a move supported by Trump in previous discussions.
