Key facts
- South Korea wants to regain wartime operational control of its military from the US.
- US Forces Korea commander General Xavier Brunson cited changed security environment for transfer requirements.
- Seoul favors 2028 for the transfer, while the US military's roadmap targets early 2029.
South Korea has urged the United States to return wartime operational control of its military, but Washington's reluctance has highlighted disagreements between the allies regarding command during a crisis. Under the current arrangement, the U.S. commander in South Korea leads combined forces in wartime. President Lee Jae Myung stated on Monday that South Korea is fully capable of reassuming this command and that discussions are progressing, though he acknowledged the complexity of a transfer after 70 years. The two nations agreed in 2007 to eventually transfer control. General Xavier Brunson, commander of US Forces Korea, noted that the security environment has evolved since the initial requirements for the transfer were set. Seoul reportedly favors 2028 for the handover, while the U.S. military has proposed a roadmap targeting early 2029.