Seoul pushes back against US signal for OPCON transfer delay
The South Korean military said Thursday it would stick to an existing agreement on conditions for wartime operational control (OPCON) transfer from Washington to Seoul, despite a warning from the top U.S. commander in Korea that evolving security threats require new standards. It showed discomfort over U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson’s remarks on the need to change…
On Thursday, the South Korean military reaffirmed its commitment to an existing agreement regarding the conditions for transferring wartime operational control (OPCON) from the United States to Seoul, despite a warning from the top U.S. commander in Korea. Gen. Xavier Brunson expressed concern that evolving security threats necessitate new standards for the transition, stating that "the transfer would never be possible" under the current standards.
The military spokesperson, Chung Binna, at a briefing, emphasized that the principle of OPCON transfer upon mutual agreement between South Korea and the United States remains unchanged. The two nations are reportedly conducting close consultations on the matter, adhering to the Conditions-based Operational Control Transition Plan (COTP) which was established in 2015.
The allies have been assessing South Korea's capabilities through three stages under the COTP, and Seoul has yet to decide whether to accept any proposed new conditions by the U.S.
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- Seoul pushes back against US signal for OPCON transfer delay koreatimes.co.kr
- USFK Chief: New OPCON Transfer Standards in Place after 'Changed Conditions' world.kbs.co.kr
- S. Korea says conditions-based OPCON transfer 'never' possible if conditions keep changing en.yna.co.kr
- USFK commander says Korea must meet ‘new standards’ for OPCON transfer hani.co.kr
