Defense chief to propose target year for wartime OPCON transfer at year-end meeting

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back speaks during a briefing at the defense ministry's headquarters in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

The target year for Korea regaining wartime operational control (OPCON) from the United States will be proposed to the presidents of both countries at the end of this year, Seoul's defense chief said Sunday.

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back made the remarks in an interview with broadcaster KBS, as President Lee Jae Myung's administration has sought to complete the transfer within Lee's term, which ends in 2030.

"Discussions on the verification of full operational capability (FOC) will take place with the U.S. defense secretary at the Security Consultative Meeting in November and based on this, a proposal will be made to both presidents," Ahn said. "Then, the year for wartime OPCON recovery will be decided."

The allies are in the process of verifying the FOC — the second part of a three-phase program aimed at vetting Seoul's capabilities to lead the allies' combined forces.

Korea handed over operational control of its troops to the U.S.-led U.N. Command during the 1950-53 Korean War. It was then transferred to the allies' Combined Forces Command when the command was launched in 1978.

Korea retook peacetime OPCON in 1994, but the U.S. still retains control of Korean forces in the event of war.

When asked about possible differences between the allies on the timing of the transfer, Ahn said there could be differences in opinion.

"Even spouses have different opinions, so how can countries have an identical opinion on the issue of wartime OPCON," he said, adding that close communications between the allies are under way to narrow such differences.

Meanwhile, Ahn said Korea is pushing ahead with its nuclear-powered submarine project, noting that the country has all the conditions to build one except for the nuclear fuel.

"We only don't have the nuclear fuel, but we are seeking cooperation and support from the U.S. side for low-enriched uranium enriched to less than 20 percent," he said.

When asked whether an agreement has been made between Seoul and Washington to build the submarine in Korea, Ahn said the allies have yet to come to such a deal but noted that Seoul has consistently maintained the need to build such vessels at home.