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

A former U.S. diplomat has warned that the planned transfer of wartime operational control from Washington to Seoul may not happen quickly, citing a lack of consensus on the issue within the United States. Speaking at a virtual forum, Joseph Yun, a former acting U.S. ambassador to South Korea and special representative for North Korea, also mentioned that there is no agreement in Washington regarding South Korea's desire to have the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes and the acquisition of nuclear submarines.

Yun discussed his predictions for the next two years of the Trump administration, particularly after the recent U.S. midterm elections where Democrats gained control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Yun expressed his doubts about the speed of OPCON transfer efforts and the lack of consensus in Washington on nuclear issues. South Korea and the U.S. remain in dialogue about these matters.