Ex-U.S. diplomat says OPCON transfer may not move rapidly, cites 'no consensus' in Washington

Former U.S. diplomat Joseph Yun warned on Tuesday that the planned transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington to Seoul may not progress quickly, citing a lack of consensus in Washington on key alliance issues. Yun, speaking virtually at a forum, also stated that there is no consensus in the United States over South Korea's push to secure rights to enrich uranium for peaceful civilian purposes and acquire nuclear submarines.

The diplomat offered his predictions for the remaining two years of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, particularly in light of the November midterm elections, which saw Democrats gain control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Yun expressed his doubts about the rapid transfer of OPCON, noting that there is also no consensus in Washington regarding South Korea's pursuit of enrichment or nuclear submarines.

The U.S. and South Korea have been negotiating the "conditions-based" OPCON transfer, with Seoul seeking to regain wartime control before Lee Jae Myung's five-year term ends in 2030. Washington, however, emphasizes the importance of fulfilling the conditions for the transfer. Yun also cautioned that the transition could potentially weaken the bilateral alliance, emphasizing that while South Korea views the transfer as a "political" issue, the U.S. sees it as a "technical" matter.

In Seoul, the OPCON transfer has remained a contentious issue, with proponents arguing that it equates to the restoration of the country's military sovereignty and opponents contending that it could undermine the alliance amid North Korea's evolving nuclear threats.