S. Korea, US vow to strengthen cooperation to accelerate wartime OPCON transition in defense talks

South Korea and the United States agreed to bolster their collaboration in order to expedite the transition of wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington to Seoul, according to a joint statement released on Friday. The two nations convened for the 29th Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD) in Busan, South Korea's southeastern metropolis, from Wednesday to Friday (Korean time).

President Lee Jae Myung's administration aims to regain OPCON before the expiration of its term in 2030. In the statement, both parties reviewed efforts to modernize the alliance amid a changing security landscape and assessed advancements on the Conditions-based Wartime Operational Control Transition Plan. They also reaffirmed their commitment to reinforcing cooperation to hasten the transition of OPCON.

South Korea and the U.S. have been working on the conditions-based OPCON transfer since they initially agreed upon it in October 2014. The conditions encompassing the pact include South Korea's ability to lead combined U.S.-South Korea forces, its strike and air defense capabilities, and a regional security environment.