S. Korea says conditions-based OPCON transfer 'never' possible if conditions keep changing

This will let Google show Yonhap news articles that match or are related to your search

SEOUL, Oct. 15 (Yonhap) -- The transition of wartime operational control (OPCON) from the United States to South Korea would "never" be possible should the required conditions continue to change, a defense ministry spokesperson said Thursday, in an apparent rebuttal of remarks from the chief of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) that the "conditions have changed."

"I believe transfer of wartime operational control would never be achieved if the goalpost continues to be moved," the spokesperson, Chung Bin-na, told a press briefing, stressing that such was her own view.

"The official position of the defense ministry is that South Korea and the U.S. are closely coordinating the matter based on the conditions agreed upon by the two countries," she added.

This file photo, taken Aug. 10, 2026, shows Chung Bin-na, a spokesperson for South Korea's defense ministry, holding a press briefing at the ministry in Seoul. (Yonhap)

Her remarks come after the USFK commander, Gen. Xavier Brunson, noted that the conditions have changed, and thus the allies now have "new standards which we have to uphold," while speaking at a forum in Washington.

They also come amid a perceived gap between Seoul and Washington over the timing of the 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.

Chung declined to comment when asked about the ministry's position on Brunson's remarks, noting it would be inappropriate to remark on comments made by the USFK commander.

"There has been no change in the principle that South Korea and the U.S. will transfer the wartime operational control when the conditions mutually agreed upon are met," Chung said, adding the allies will continue to resolve any differences in their views ahead of the annual Security Consultative Meeting (SCM).

The allies have yet to set the date for the high-level defense dialogue, set to take place in Washington, while earlier reports suggested they have agreed to postpone the meeting until after the U.S. midterm elections slated for Nov. 3. The SCM is typically held in late October or early November.

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)

sookim@yna.co.kr (END)

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

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

S. Korea says conditions-based OPCON transfer 'never' possible if conditions keep changing

这将使谷歌能够向您展示与您的搜索匹配或相关的韩联社新闻文章

首尔，10 月 15 日（韩联社）——韩国国防部发言人周四表示，如果必要条件继续变化，战时作战指挥权（OPCON）从美国移交给韩国“永远”不可能。这显然是在反驳驻韩美军司令关于“条件已经改变”的言论。

发言人郑彬娜在新闻发布会上表示：“我认为，如果目标不断改变，战时作战指挥权的移交永远无法实现。”她强调，这只是她个人的观点。

她补充说：“国防部的官方立场是，韩国和美国正在两国商定的条件下密切协调此事。”

这张摄于2026年8月10日的资料照片显示，韩国国防部发言人郑彬娜在首尔国防部举行新闻发布会。（韩联社）

在她发表这番言论之前，驻韩美军司令泽维尔·布伦森将军在华盛顿的一个论坛上指出，情况已经发生了变化，因此盟军现在有了“我们必须坚持的新标准”。

此外，首尔和华盛顿之间在作战指挥权移交时间问题上也存在分歧。

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。

当被问及国防部对布伦森言论的立场时，钟拒绝置评，并指出对驻韩美军司令的言论发表评论是不合适的。

郑表示，“韩国和美国将在双方商定的条件得到满足后移交战时作战指挥权的原则没有改变”，并补充说，盟国将在年度安全磋商会议（SCM）之前继续解决彼此在意见上的任何分歧。

盟国尚未确定在华盛顿举行的高级别防务对话的日期，而早前的报道称，他们已同意将会议推迟到定于11月3日举行的美国中期选举之后。安全协调机制通常在10月下旬或11月初举行。

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）

sookim@yna.co.kr (完)

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。

（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。

韩国方面表示，如果情况持续变化，基于条件的作战指挥权移交“永远”不可能。