(URGENT) Lee says wartime OPCON must be retaken at early date, cannot continue to leave in hands of another country

SEOUL, Oct. 19 (Yonhap) -- In a statement marking his 500th day as president, South Korea's Lee Jae Myung emphasized that wartime operational control (OPCON) should be transferred to Seoul from the United States at an early date. The president stated that relying on another country for OPCON cannot be left unchanged. He expressed confidence in South Korea's capability to assume operational control and noted that talks between the two nations are progressing well.

The president's remarks come as there appears to be a discrepancy between Seoul and Washington regarding the timing of OPCON transfer, with the Lee administration aiming to regain control before the end of its term in 2030, or even sooner. In contrast, a U.S. Forces Korea commander mentioned changing conditions due to North Korea's recent missile launches, suggesting that a new standard for OPCON transfer is needed.

The South Korean defense ministry countered that the goal of OPCON transfer might never be attained if objectives keep shifting. South Korea previously ceded OPCON to the U.S.-led U.N. Command during the Korean War and later to the Combined Forces Command in 1978. Seoul regained peacetime OPCON in 1994, but wartime OPCON remains under U.S. control.

Lee expressed gratitude for the U.S. goodwill in confirming South Korea's defense readiness before transferring OPCON. However, he insisted that the nation should shoulder its national defense independently and is confident it possesses the necessary capacity.