Korea-US annual security meeting pushed to early 2027
Korea and the United States have agreed to hold their annual Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) in early 2027, pushing back the flagship alliance gathering that had been expected in October before slipping to November and then December, a delay that is likely to set back Seoul’s push to advance the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON). Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul and U.S. Defense…
Korea and the United States have reached an agreement to hold their annual Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) earlier in 2027, delaying the crucial alliance gathering from its previously expected dates in October, November, and December. This postponement, announced by Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during their first face-to-face meeting on the sidelines of a regional defense conference in Cebu, Philippines, is expected to hinder Seoul's progress in transferring wartime operational control (OPCON).
The two ministers also decided to hold a bilateral defense meeting in Washington in December, just prior to the rescheduled SCM. This reaffirms their commitment to enhancing defense cooperation and preserving a robust combined defense posture. The meeting, which initially lasted just 15 minutes, stretched out to about 40 minutes, allowing for a more in-depth discussion of alliance issues. Kang had mentioned during his departure from the Philippines that the SCM schedule might require further discussion with Washington.
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