[BREAKING] President reaffirms push to reclaim wartime OPCON

Published Oct 19, 2026 5:32 pm KST

Updated Oct 19, 2026 5:35 pm KST

President Lee Jae Myung speaks with reporters in the lobby of Chunchugwan, the press center at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung on Monday reaffirmed his commitment to reclaiming wartime operational control from the United States, calling it essential to Korea’s sovereignty.

Speaking with reporters at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Lee expressed confidence in the country’s defense capabilities while acknowledging the challenges of changing a command arrangement that has lasted more than seven decades.

“To put it plainly, we must reclaim wartime operational control at an early date, and we are fully capable of doing so,” he said. “Discussions between Korea and the United States are also generally progressing well toward its return.”

Responding to remarks by U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson on the conditions for the handover, Lee said differing views could emerge but stressed that Korea should take responsibility for assessing its own defense capabilities.

发布于2026年10月19日下午5:32（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月19日下午5:35（韩国标准时间）

周一，韩国总统李在明在首尔青瓦台新闻中心春秋馆大厅会见记者。（韩联社）

韩国总统李在明周一重申了他从美国手中夺回战时作战控制权的决心，称这对于韩国的主权至关重要。

李在首尔青瓦台接受记者采访时，对韩国的国防能力表示信心，同时也承认改变已持续七十多年的指挥安排所面临的挑战。

“坦白地说，我们必须尽快重新夺回战时作战指挥权，而且我们完全有能力做到这一点，”他说。“韩国和美国之间的讨论也总体上朝着恢复作战指挥权的方向进展顺利。”

针对驻韩美军司令泽维尔·布伦森将军关于移交条件的言论，李表示可能会出现不同的观点，但他强调韩国应该负责评估自身的国防能力。