S. Korea seeks to retake OPCON from U.S. under 'no added conditions' principle: defense minister nominee
Defense Minister nominee Kang Shin-chul said Friday that South Korea is seeking to retake wartime operational control (OPCON) from the United States under a firm principle that there will be "no additional conditions" attached. Kang made the remark in written responses submitted to a lawmaker ahead of his parliamentary confirmation hearing set for Wednesday. The retired four-star Army general, a…
South Korea's nominee for Defense Minister, Kang Shin-chul, has stated that Seoul aims to reclaim wartime operational control (OPCON) from the United States without imposing any extra conditions. The retired four-star Army general, who previously served as the deputy commander of the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC), made the claim in written replies addressed to a lawmaker.
These responses were submitted ahead of his upcoming parliamentary confirmation hearing. Kang emphasized that he comprehends the defense ministry's ongoing bilateral talks with the U.S., based on the principle of "no additional conditions." His statement follows Seoul's efforts to regain OPCON from Washington, either before the end of President Lee Jae Myung's five-year term in 2030 or even sooner.
South Korea relinquished peacetime OPCON in 1994, while the U.S. continues to maintain wartime OPCON. The two nations initially agreed on this arrangement.
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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