U.S. expresses 'understanding' of S. Korea's unease over USFK commander's remarks: source

The United States has acknowledged and shared South Korea's concerns over USFK Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson's recent remarks about the inter-Korean border and Seoul's move to take wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington. The South Korean government has protested Brunson's description of the southern border fence as the beginning of South Korean territory, a move that infringes upon Seoul's sovereignty.

The South Korean Constitution defines the entire Korean Peninsula and adjacent islands as its territory. Brunson also pointed to new standards for the OPCON transfer, citing North Korea's advancing military capabilities and changes in the security environment due to the Russia-Ukraine war. Despite disagreements over the timing of the OPCON transfer, the US has recognized South Korea's understanding of the matter.

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