What conditions does the United States say must be met before transferring wartime OPCON to Korea?

The U.S. administration said the transfer will take place when the agreed conditions have been met. It said those conditions are intended to ensure the safety and security of people in Korea and U.S. forces stationed there.

What are South Korea and the United States doing to set a target year for the OPCON transfer?

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul said the two countries are closely coordinating on completing the full operational capability certification and determining the year for the transfer. He made the remarks during a parliamentary audit in response to questions about Seoul’s efforts to set a target year.

When and where are South Korea and the United States expected to discuss the wartime OPCON handover next?

The countries’ defense chiefs are widely expected to meet at the Security Consultative Meeting in Washington in December. The meeting is expected to cover the handover along with other alliance and security issues.

US stresses conditions for wartime OPCON transfer amid Korea's push to set target year

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Summary

The U.S. administration said it will transfer wartime operational control to Korea when agreed conditions are met, as Seoul seeks to set a target year for the handover. Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul said the two countries are coordinating on completing full operational capability certification and determining the year. President Lee Jae Myung’s administration wants the transfer before its term ends in 2030, while Washington has cautioned against rushing it for political reasons. The countries’ defense chiefs are expected to discuss the issue at a Security Consultative Meeting in Washington in December.

Key Facts

A U.S. administration official told Yonhap News Agency by email on Monday that the U.S. policy on wartime operational control has been consistent for decades.
Kang made his remarks during a parliamentary audit on Monday, Korea time.
U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson recently said that conditions had changed, prompting pushback from Seoul.
The expected December Security Consultative Meeting in Washington is also set to address other alliance and security issues.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 28, 2026 7:50 am KST

Marine One, with U.S. President Donald Trump aboard, lifts off from the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, Oct. 22. AP-Yonhap

The U.S. administration has reiterated that it intends to transfer wartime operational control (OPCON) to Korea "when the agreed conditions have been met," amid Seoul's push to set a target year for the handover.

"The United States intends to transfer wartime operational control to Korea when the agreed conditions have been met, which will ensure the safety and security of the people of Korea and U.S. forces stationed there," a U.S. administration official told Yonhap News Agency via email on Monday.

The remarks came in response to a Yonhap inquiry regarding Korean Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul's comments that Seoul and Washington were coordinating on setting a target year for the OPCON transfer.

"The United States policy on wartime operational control has been consistent for decades," the U.S. official added.

During a parliamentary audit Monday (Korea time), Kang said Korea and the U.S. are closely coordinating on setting a target year for Seoul's retaking of wartime OPCON from Washington.

"The Korean and U.S. authorities are closely coordinating on completing the full operational capability (FOC) certification and determining the 'year X' for the OPCON transfer," Kang said during a parliamentary audit.

His remarks came after U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson's recent comments that "conditions have changed" for Korea to retake OPCON, drawing pushback from Seoul.

President Lee Jae Myung's administration wants to retake OPCON before its five-year term ends in 2030, or even earlier. But the U.S. has taken a more prudent approach, expressing reservations about rushing to complete the handover out of political considerations.

The defense chiefs of Korea and the U.S. are widely expected to hold the Security Consultative Meeting in Washington in December to discuss a range of alliance and security issues, including the handover of wartime operational control.

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