US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized the need for a balanced approach in transferring wartime operational control (OPCON) to South Korea. Speaking at a defense forum in Singapore, Hegseth highlighted the importance of respecting the longstanding roles of the US military in the process. There are concerns over differing views between Seoul and Washington regarding the timing and manner of the transition.
Seoul has proposed regaining wartime OPCON from the US by 2028, aiming to complete the transfer before the end of the Lee Jae Myung administration’s term in 2030. However, doubts have arisen over whether both sides agree on this timeline. US Forces Korea Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson suggested meeting the conditions for the OPCON transfer by the first quarter of 2029.
South Korea handed over operational control of its troops to the US-led UN Command during the Korean War and later to the Combined Forces Command in 1978. Brunson, also present at the forum, emphasized the importance of ensuring military capabilities and readiness for the OPCON transition. He stressed the significance of having the right capabilities at the right time and place.
Hegseth praised Seoul’s determination to reclaim wartime OPCON, describing it as a positive development. He expressed support for South Korea’s ambition to develop a nuclear-powered submarine program, stating that such initiatives among allies enhance deterrence and regional stability. Hegseth emphasized the value of allies expanding their undersea warfare capacity for defense and stability in the region.
