(LEAD) S. Korea, U.S. agree to hold key defense talks after midterm elections: sources

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(ATTN: ADDS USFK's statement regarding OPCON transition in paras 16-18) By Kim Seung-yeon

SEOUL, Oct. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States are in talks to set the date for their high-level defense dialogue after the U.S. midterms, informed sources said Wednesday, a move that would mark a delay of the annual talks typically held in early November.

According to the sources, the allies have reached a mutual "understanding" to push back the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) largely due to the U.S. midterm elections slated for Nov. 3. Washington is due to host this year's SCM.

The apparent delay, however, comes amid a perceived gap between Seoul and Washington over the timing of the U.S.' handover of wartime operational control (OPCON) to South Korea.

Seoul seeks to retake wartime OPCON from Washington before the Lee Jae Myung administration's five-year term ends in 2030, or even as early as next year. Washington has expressed reservations about rushing the transition out of political considerations.

"The U.S. side has raised the need for rescheduling considering the midterm elections and other factors," a source said.

Another source said that both sides "are aligned on delaying the schedule."

The SCM is a key bilateral defense dialogue where the allies' top defense officials discuss and coordinate a wide range of alliance and security issues, including defense strategy and joint military readiness, primarily to deter North Korea.

The defense ministry said it was in talks with the U.S. defense department to coordinate on a "mutually available date."

"No specific details have yet been finalized," it said in a media note.

The Chosun Ilbo daily reported Wednesday the SCM has been pushed back to December, citing a lawmaker.

This composite file photo shows Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul (L) and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, as released by AFP. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

The likely postponement of the SCM comes amid growing speculation that Seoul may not achieve its goal of advancing the OPCON transition -- completing the second phase of a three-stage "conditions-based" transition plan (COTP) aimed at verifying South Korean forces' capabilities to lead the combined forces.

The allies are currently assessing the "full operational capability" (FOC), having validated the "initial operational capability" (IOC).

Seoul aims to wrap up the FOC certification and announce a target year for the OPCON transition at the upcoming SCM before moving on to the remaining assessment of the "full mission capability" (FMC), which it expects to take about a year or so.

The JoongAng Ilbo newspaper reported that Washington remains firm on the position that Seoul is not ready for the FOC certification, weighing on Seoul's push to accelerate the OPCON transition.

The ministry said the allies have completed all joint evaluations of the capabilities scheduled for this year and that they are working closely to prepare for the FOC certification.

The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) stopped short of providing details on the status of the FOC certification, reiterating its commitment to advancing the transition plan based on past SCM agreements.

"OPCON transition remains a bilaterally agreed, conditions-based Alliance process," it said in a statement. "The United States and the ROK continue to work toward transition through longstanding bilateral coordination and joint assessments."

ROK is short for the Republic of Korea, South Korea's official name.

Speaking to Yonhap earlier in the day, Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul acknowledged that "different perspectives" remain over the OPCON transition.

"As I have said before, trust is important," he said. "So I repeat that there are no major disagreements or issues."

Asked if he plans to meet with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the upcoming ADMM Plus defense ministers' meeting in the Philippines later this month, Kang said his office is in talks with the U.S. side to make that happen.

"We are consulting (with Washington) to arrange a meeting. We are working on that."

elly@yna.co.kr (END)

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(LEAD) S. Korea, U.S. agree to hold key defense talks after midterm elections: sources

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（注：第16-18段新增驻韩美军关于作战指挥权交接的声明）金承妍

首尔，10 月 14 日（韩联社）——知情人士周三表示，韩国和美国正在商讨将高级别防务对话的日期定在美国中期选举之后，此举将标志着通常在 11 月初举行的年度会谈被推迟。

消息人士称，盟国已达成共识，将推迟安全磋商会议（SCM），主要原因是美国将于11月3日举行中期选举。华盛顿原定主办今年的安全磋商会议。

然而，这一明显的延迟发生在首尔和华盛顿之间就美国向韩国移交战时作战控制权（OPCON）的时间安排存在分歧之际。

首尔方面希望在李在明政府五年任期于2030年结束之前，甚至最早明年，从华盛顿手中夺回战时作战指挥权。华盛顿方面出于政治考量，对仓促完成权力交接表示保留意见。

一位消息人士称：“考虑到中期选举和其他因素，美方提出了重新安排会期的必要性。”

另一消息人士称，双方“在推迟工期方面意见一致”。

安全协调机制是盟国最高国防官员进行的重要双边防务对话，旨在讨论和协调广泛的联盟和安全问题，包括国防战略和联合军事准备，主要目的是威慑朝鲜。

国防部表示，正在与美国国防部进行磋商，以协调确定一个“双方都方便的日期”。

“具体细节尚未最终确定，”该公司在一份媒体声明中表示。

据《朝鲜日报》周三报道，援引一位国会议员的话称，SCM会议已被推迟至12月举行。

这张合成照片显示的是韩国国防部长姜信哲（左）和美国国防部长皮特·赫格塞斯，由法新社发布。（照片不得出售）（韩联社）

在外界越来越猜测首尔可能无法实现推进作战指挥权过渡的目标之际，战略指挥会议（SCM）很可能被推迟。首尔的目标是完成旨在验证韩国军队领导联合部队能力的三阶段“基于条件”过渡计划（COTP）的第二阶段。

盟军目前正在评估“全面作战能力”（FOC），此前已验证了“初始作战能力”（IOC）。

首尔方面计划在即将举行的SCM会议上完成FOC认证，并宣布OPCON过渡的目标年份，然后再进行“全面任务能力”（FMC）的剩余评估，预计这大约需要一年时间。

《中央日报》报道称，华盛顿方面仍然坚持首尔尚未做好获得最终作战能力认证的准备，这给首尔加快推进作战指挥权过渡的努力带来了压力。

该部表示，盟军已完成今年计划的所有联合能力评估，并正在密切合作，为最终作战能力认证做准备。

驻韩美军并未详细说明最终作战能力认证的进展情况，只是重申了其致力于根据以往的供应链管理协议推进过渡计划的承诺。

声明称：“作战指挥权的交接仍然是美韩双边商定的、以条件为基础的联盟进程。美国和韩国将继续通过长期的双边协调和联合评估来推进交接工作。”

ROK是韩国共和国（Republic of Korea）的缩写，是韩国的正式名称。

当天早些时候，国防部长姜信哲在接受韩联社采访时承认，对于作战指挥权的交接仍然存在“不同的看法”。

“正如我之前所说，信任很重要，”他说。“所以我重申，我们之间没有任何重大分歧或问题。”

当被问及是否计划在本月晚些时候于菲律宾举行的东盟防长扩大会议（ADMM Plus）上与美国国防部长皮特·赫格塞斯会面时，康表示，他的办公室正在与美方进行磋商，以促成此事。

“我们正在与华盛顿方面协商安排会晤。我们正在努力。”

elly@yna.co.kr（完）

前驻韩美军指挥官警告称，基于时间的作战指挥权移交可能会削弱对朝鲜的威慑力。

驻韩美军司令重申对“基于条件”的作战控制权移交的承诺

（导语）韩国国防部长提名人：韩国寻求在“不附加任何条件”的原则下从美国手中夺回作战控制权

（导语）国防部重申将力争在年底前制定作战指挥权交接时间表

（头条）消息人士称，韩国和美国同意在中期选举后举行关键防务会谈。