Defense minister nominee vows to seek OPCON transfer in way that strengthens Korea-US alliance
Defense Minister nominee Kang Shin-chul said Thursday he will pursue the transition of wartime operational command (OPCON) from Washington in a way that will strengthen the South Korea-U.S. alliance. Kang, ex-deputy commander of the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command, made the remarks as Seoul has been seeking to regain wartime command before President Lee Jae Myung's five-year term ends in…
Former deputy commander of the South Korea-US Combined Forces Command, Kang Shin-chul, has expressed his intention to seek the transfer of wartime operational command (OPCON) in a manner that would bolster the South Korea-US alliance. With President Lee Jae Myung's five-year term set to conclude in 2030, Seoul has been actively pursuing the regaining of wartime command.
The three-phase OPCON transition plan currently places the allies in the second stage of verifying the Combined Forces' full operational capability (FOC). Seoul aims to finalize the FOC assessment process during this year. Kang informed reporters as he headed to prepare for a parliamentary confirmation hearing regarding his nomination as the new defense minister, succeeding Ahn Gyu-back.
South Korea has been aiming to establish a target year for the OPCON handover during the upcoming annual Security Consultative Meeting between the allies' defense chiefs this fall.
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