Key facts
- President Lee Jae Myung reiterated Monday that wartime operational control (OPCON) of South Korean troops should be transferred to Seoul at an early date.
- Lee stated South Korea is sufficiently capable of assuming OPCON.
- U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson cited North Korea's missile launches as a reason for changed conditions regarding OPCON transfer.
- South Korea retook peacetime OPCON in 1994, but wartime OPCON remains with the U.S.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Monday the country is fully capable of taking back the wartime operational control of the combined forces with the US stationed in the country and that talks with Washington for the change are progressing.
Lee told reporters that South Korea has built a powerful military capable of countering North Korea, even with its nuclear weapons. He stated that the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) should happen at an early time, acknowledging that the process is complex after 70 years of US command.
The allies have been discussing the readiness of the South Korean military for the transfer, with some disagreement on timing. South Korean media have reported Seoul favors 2028, while Gen. Xavier Brunson indicated the US military submitted a roadmap for early 2029. Lee aims to complete the transfer before his term ends in 2030.