USFK chief says 'conditions have changed' while stressing requirements for OPCON transfer to S. Korea

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson said Wednesday that "conditions have changed" while stressing the requirements in the transfer of a conditions-based wartime operation control (OPCON) from the United States to South Korea.

"Because the conditions have changed, because we've changed our plan, we have new standards which we have to uphold," Brunson said while sharing his thoughts on the topic of OPCON transfer during the annual Indo-Pacific Summit hosted by the Gold Institute for International Strategy in Washington.

The general cited North Korea's missile launches carried out earlier this week as evidence of such change. "A cursory glance of a newspaper would tell you that the conditions have most assuredly changed."

On Monday, North Korea test-fired tactical ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, part of efforts to upgrade a key component of its weapons systems, with the country's state media calling it a "big success."

Brunson's comments come amid a perceived gap between Seoul and Washington over the timing of OPCON transfer.

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.

While stating that he is "pro-OPCON," Brunson said he is not in favor of violating OPCON conditions.

"We don't have the benefit of changing the conditions to time. Time, in and of itself, is a condition," the general said, adding, "We're talking about critical capabilities. We're talking about the ability to be fully mission capable to do all the things you're counting on me to do right now."

Asked about the future structure of the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC) following the transfer, Brunson said its eventual form remains uncertain, while emphasizing that any changes should strengthen the bilateral alliance.

"I don't know what form it's going to take," he said, stressing the importance of ensuring that the alliance remains strong regardless of any changes.

South Korea and the U.S. are reportedly in talks to push back the date for their high-level Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), usually held between late October and early November, to December.

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

U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson delivers a keynote speech at the annual Indo-Pacific Summit hosted by the Gold Institute for International Strategy in Washington. (Yonhap)

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USFK chief says 'conditions have changed' while stressing requirements for OPCON transfer to S. Korea

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华盛顿，10 月 14 日（韩联社）——驻韩美军司令泽维尔·布伦森将军周三表示，“情况已经发生了变化”，同时强调了从美国向韩国移交基于条件的战时作战控制权 (OPCON) 的要求。

“由于情况发生了变化，由于我们改变了计划，我们有了新的标准，我们必须坚持这些标准，”布伦森在华盛顿由戈尔德国际战略研究所主办的年度印太峰会上分享他对作战指挥权移交的看法时说道。

这位将军以朝鲜本周早些时候进行的导弹发射为例，证明局势已经发生了变化。“随便翻翻报纸就知道，情况确实已经改变了。”

周一，朝鲜向东海试射了战术弹道导弹，这是其武器系统关键部件升级工作的一部分，朝鲜官方媒体称之为“巨大成功”。

布伦森发表这番言论之际，正值首尔和华盛顿在作战指挥权移交时间问题上存在分歧。

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。

布伦森表示，他“支持作战控制”，但他并不赞成违反作战控制条件。

“我们无法改变时间条件。时间本身就是一种条件，”这位将军说道，并补充道，“我们谈论的是关键能力。我们谈论的是完全具备执行任务的能力，能够完成你们现在指望我做的所有事情。”

当被问及移交后韩美联合部队司令部（CFC）的未来结构时，布伦森表示，其最终形式仍不确定，但他强调，任何改变都应该加强双边联盟。

“我不知道它会采取什么形式，”他说道，并强调无论发生什么变化，都必须确保联盟保持强大。

据报道，韩国和美国正在商讨将通常在 10 月下旬至 11 月初举行的高级别安全磋商会议 (SCM) 的日期推迟到 12 月。

在外界越来越猜测首尔可能无法实现其目标，即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”过渡计划的第二阶段之际，SCM可能会被推迟。

驻韩美军司令泽维尔·布伦森将军在华盛顿由戈尔德国际战略研究所主办的年度印太峰会上发表主旨演讲。（韩联社）

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驻韩美军司令表示“情况已经改变”，同时强调了将作战指挥权移交给韩国的必要条件。