(LEAD) Defense ministry reaffirms push to set OPCON transition timeline by year-end

The South Korean defense ministry has reaffirmed its commitment to finalize a target year for transferring wartime operational control (OPCON) from the United States by the end of the year. This push comes as South Korea aims to regain control before President Lee Jae Myung's five-year term ends in 2030 or before U.S. President Donald Trump leaves office in January 2029.

The ministry aims to achieve this during the upcoming Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) between the defense chiefs of the allies. The OPCON transition plan includes three conditions: South Korea's ability to lead combined Korea-U.S. forces, sufficient strike and air defense capabilities to counter North Korea, and a regional security environment conducive to the handover.

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