South Korea official says shifting goalposts could block wartime command transfer from US
A South Korean defense ministry spokesperson said shifting transfer conditions could make wartime operational control handover impossible, as Seoul and Washington dispute the timeline.
- On Wednesday, U.S. Forces Korea Commander General Xavier Brunson said "conditions have changed" regarding the wartime operational control transfer from the United States to South Korea, stressing that new standards must be upheld.
- North Korea's test-firing of tactical ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Monday prompted Brunson to cite the incident as evidence that the security environment and operational plans have fundamentally shifted.
- Emphasizing that he is "pro-OPCON," Brunson stated, "We don't have the benefit of changing the conditions to time," while stressing the need for critical military capabilities over timeline pressure.
- South Korean Defence Ministry spokesperson Jeong Bit-na told a briefing on Thursday that "if the goalposts keep moving, wartime operational control can never be transferred," expressing Seoul's frustration.
- Seoul aims to complete the transfer before President Lee Jae Myung's five-year term ends in 2030, yet potential delays to the Security Consultative Meeting signal challenges in verifying South Korean forces' capabilities.
17 Articles
17 Articles
USFK Commander Mentions "Changes in Conditions for OPCON Transfer"... Differences in Views Publicly Exposed South Korean Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson: "If We Keep Moving the Goalposts, the Transfer of OPCON Will Be Permanently Impossible" On the 15th, Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson Jeong Bit-na [mentioned] the Wartime Operational Control (WOPCON) mentioned by USFK Commander Xavier Brunson.
‘Moving goalposts’ could make OPCON transfer impossible, Seoul official warns
A South Korean defense official warned that repeatedly changing the conditions for the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) transfer from the U.S. could make the process impossible, responding to remarks by U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson. The comments underscored tensions between the allies as Seoul pushes to speed up the long-delayed transfer, […]
South Korea official says shifting goalposts could block wartime command transfer from US
South Korea's Defence Ministry spokesperson said on Thursday that continually changing the requirements for transferring wartime operational control from the United States could make the handover impossible.
Commander of U.S. Forces Korea Xavier Brunson stated that existing conditions and plans for the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) have changed as the security environment on the Korean Peninsula shifts due to North Korean provocations. The U.S. side made clear that it prioritizes core military capabilities and the fulfillment of conditions over a transition focused on timing.
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