What will South Korea and the United States discuss at the Busan KIDD talks?

The allies are expected to discuss pending security issues including Seoul’s retaking of wartime operational control, the joint defense posture and cooperation in shipbuilding. The ministry also said the Strait of Hormuz deployment issue is widely expected to come up.

Why is the Strait of Hormuz deployment issue drawing attention in Korea-U.S. defense talks?

Korea sent a team to the United Arab Emirates last week to assess the security situation near the strait, which raised speculation about a possible military deployment. The government has said nothing has been decided, while Iran has warned such a move would bring serious consequences.

What is Korea trying to achieve with wartime OPCON transfer talks?

Korea wants to regain wartime command from Washington before President Lee Jae Myung’s five-year term ends in 2030, or possibly as early as next year. It also wants to finish the second phase of verifying the combined forces’ full operational capability and set a target year at the upcoming defense chiefs’ meeting this fall.

Korea, US to hold high-level defense talks amid Hormuz deployment consideration

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Summary

Korea and the United States will hold their senior-level regular defense talks in Busan from Wednesday through Friday amid Seoul’s consideration of a military deployment to the Strait of Hormuz. The biannual Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue will be led by Kim Hong-cheol and George Lemeur. The talks are expected to cover wartime OPCON transfer, the joint defense posture and shipbuilding cooperation.

Key Facts

The defense ministry said this week’s meeting is the second Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue this year, following the May session in Washington.
KIDD was launched in 2011 and will be held in Busan for the first time, outside Seoul or Washington.
The defense ministry said the Busan venue was chosen to show the allies’ resolve to expand shipbuilding cooperation.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 14, 2026 10:43 am KST

Korean and U.S. national flags are displayed side by side during a rotation ceremony at Camp Casey in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province, June 18. Yonhap

Korea and the United States plan to hold their senior-level regular defense talks this week, the defense ministry said Monday, amid Seoul weighing military deployment to the Strait of Hormuz.

The biannual Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD) will be held in the southeastern port city of Busan from Wednesday through Friday, according to the ministry.

Kim Hong-cheol, deputy defense minister for policy, and George Lemeur, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of war for East Asia, will lead the talks, along with other key defense and foreign affairs officials.

"The meeting is expected to discuss a wide range of pending security issues, including (Seoul's) retaking of wartime operational control (OPCON), joint defense posture and cooperation in shipbuilding," the ministry said.

The allies did not specify, but they are widely expected to discuss the possibility of Seoul's military deployment to the Strait of Hormuz amid Washington's pressure on Korea to join efforts to secure the crucial waterway.

Korea sent a team tasked with assessing the security situation near the Strait of Hormuz to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last week.

The move raised speculation that Korea is seriously considering military deployment to the strait, but the government has stressed nothing has been decided on the issue. Iran has publicly warned against any potential military dispatch to the area, warning such a move would lead to "serious consequences."

The issue of Seoul's push to regain OPCON from Washington will be discussed at this week's meeting. Korea seeks to regain wartime command before President Lee Jae Myung's five-year term ends in 2030 or even as early as next year.

Korea wants to complete the second phase of verifying the combined forces' "full operational capability" and announce the target year of the OPCON transfer at the upcoming defense chiefs' meeting this fall.

Launched in 2011, KIDD is a comprehensive senior-level defense meeting between the allies.

This week's meeting marks the second such gathering this year, after the last session took place in Washington in May.

The KIDD meeting will take place for the first time, outside of Seoul or Washington. The defense ministry said the selection of Busan was meant to show the allies' resolve to expand shipbuilding cooperation.

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