{
  "id": 5245053,
  "title": "Defense Minister Nominee Vows to Pursue OPCON Transfer in Way That Strengthens Alliance",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/defense-minister-nominee-vows-to-pursue-opcon-transfer-in-way-that",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-03T04:32:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "KBS World Radio",
    "slug": "kbs-world-radio",
    "url": "https://world.kbs.co.kr/service/news_view.htm?lang=e&Seq_Code=204008"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Defense Minister nominee Kang Shin-chul has stated that he will pursue the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) from the US in a way that strengthens the South Korea-US alliance. According to The Korea Times, Kang, a former deputy commander of the South Korea-US Combined Forces Command, made the remarks as Seoul seeks to regain wartime command before the end of President Lee Jae Myung's five-year term in 2030.\n\nKang's comments were made as he prepared for a parliamentary confirmation hearing. The OPCON transition is currently in its second stage, with the allies verifying the combined forces' full operational capability (FOC). Seoul aims to complete the FOC assessment process within this year.\n\nThe Korea Times reports that South Korea hopes to set a target year for the OPCON handover at this year's annual Security Consultative Meeting between the allies' defense chiefs in the fall. KBS World Radio also covered Kang's pledge to pursue the OPCON transfer in a way that strengthens the alliance.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}