Defense ministry says Kang's 'US trust' remarks meant to counter lawmaker's OPCON transfer doubts
Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul's recent remarks on U.S. trust were intended to counter a lawmaker's doubts over Seoul's push to retake wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington, not to question the ally's credibility, the defense ministry said Tuesday. Kang drew media attention Monday when he pushed back against an opposition lawmaker skeptical of Seoul's push for the OPCON transition,…
Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul's recent comments on U.S. trust were aimed at addressing a lawmaker's concerns about Seoul's plan to regain wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington, according to the defense ministry. On Monday, Kang defended the OPCON transition amid doubts expressed by opposition lawmaker Rep. Sung Il-jong.
He questioned the reliability of the U.S. military in the event of a war with North Korea, stating that trust is essential for the transition. The ministry clarified that Kang's remarks were not intended to undermine U.S. credibility, but rather to emphasize the need for trust in building a combined forces system led by a South Korean general, with the U.S. serving in a supporting role.
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