[COVER STORY] Scaled-back drills cast uncertainty over OPCON transfer timeline
The scaling back of South Korea-U.S. joint military drills, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s social media post calling for a reduction, has increased uncertainty in Seoul’s push for an earlier transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington, as the reduced exercise will likely limit the opportunity to evaluate Seoul’s readiness to lead the combined forces. The Lee Jae Myung…
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South Korea and the United States have scaled back joint military drills, following President Donald Trump's social media post urging a reduction, which has raised uncertainty in Seoul's efforts to transfer wartime operational control (OPCN) earlier. The reduced training will likely hinder the evaluation of South Korea's readiness to lead combined forces, delaying the plan to transfer OPCON around 2028.
While the allies decided to finish the ongoing Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise six days earlier than originally planned, concluding on Friday instead of Aug. 28, they also reduced or adjusted field training exercises. The move came after Trump requested a decrease in military activities on social media.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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