President indirectly criticizes USFK chief's remarks on potential OPCON transition delay

President Lee Jae Myung indirectly criticized U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson’s remarks in Seoul on Monday. Lee said South Korea should determine its own readiness to regain wartime operational control from Washington. Brunson said changing North Korean missile capabilities had produced new transfer criteria, raising concerns about delays. Seoul is targeting 2028, while Brunson cited the first quarter of 2029.

Lee made the comments during a press meeting marking the 500th day of his administration.

Brunson said changes in operational plans caused by North Korea’s enhanced missile capabilities had led to new criteria and conditions for the transfer.

South Korea wants to retake wartime operational control by 2028, before Lee’s term ends in 2030.

South Korea’s defense ministry said the transfer would never be possible if the conditions continued changing.

Published Oct 19, 2026 7:59 pm KST

President Lee Jae Myung speaks with reporters in the lobby of Chunchugwan, the press center at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, during a gathering marking his administration’s 500th day in office, Monday. Joint Press Corps

President Lee Jae Myung on Monday indirectly criticized U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson’s latest remarks on condition changes for transferring wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington to Seoul.

It is the first time for the Korean president to talk about the recent controversy over the commander's comments on the OPCON transition, although he did not directly mention Brunson or his remarks.

“There can be various opinions. In a sense, I appreciate the goodwill because they [the U.S.] say they will hand it over after confirming that we can adequately defend ourselves and conduct operations on our own," Lee said during a press meeting to mark his administration’s 500th day in office.

"I appreciate that, but I think this is something we should do ourselves. It will work out.”

His comments came after Brunson said in a seminar last week that changes in operational plans as a result of North Korea's enhanced missile capacities had led to new criteria and conditions for the transfer, emphasizing that it should depend on South Korea's military capabilities rather than follow a fixed timetable.

The USFK commanders' remarks have been widely interpreted as signaling possible delays in Seoul’s efforts to regain OPCON. South Korea is seeking to retake it by 2028 — before Lee’s term ends in 2030 — while Brunson has cited the first quarter of 2029.

South Korea's defense ministry expressed unease at Brunson's remarks at the time, saying the transfer will never be possible if conditions keep changing.

韩国总统李在明周一在首尔间接批评了驻韩美军司令泽维尔·布伦森将军的言论。李在明表示，韩国应自行决定是否准备好从华盛顿手中重新获得战时作战指挥权。布伦森则表示，朝鲜导弹能力的变化导致了新的移交标准，引发了人们对移交延迟的担忧。首尔方面的目标是2028年，而布伦森则认为应该是2029年第一季度。

李在就职500天的新闻发布会上发表了上述言论。

布伦森表示，朝鲜导弹能力的提升导致作战计划发生变化，从而产生了新的转让标准和条件。

韩国希望在李明博2030年任期结束前，于2028年重新掌握战时作战指挥权。

韩国国防部表示，如果情况继续变化，此次移交永远不可能实现。

发布于2026年10月19日晚上7:59（韩国标准时间）

周一，在首尔青瓦台新闻中心春秋馆大厅，李在明总统出席其执政500天纪念活动，并与记者交谈。（联合记者团）

周一，韩国总统李在明间接批评了驻韩美军司令泽维尔·布伦森将军关于战时作战指挥权（OPCON）从华盛顿移交给首尔的条件变化的最新言论。

这是韩国总统首次谈及最近因指挥官对作战指挥权交接的言论而引发的争议，尽管他没有直接提及布伦森或他的言论。

李在就职500天新闻发布会上说：“对此可能会有不同的看法。从某种意义上说，我感谢他们的善意，因为他们（美国）表示，在确认我们能够充分自卫并独立开展军事行动后，他们才会移交核武器。”

“我很感激，但我认为这是我们应该自己做的事情。最终会成功的。”

此前，布伦森上周在一次研讨会上表示，由于朝鲜导弹能力的增强，作战计划发生了变化，导致导弹移交有了新的标准和条件，并强调移交应取决于韩国的军事能力，而不是遵循固定的时间表。

驻韩美军指挥官的讲话被广泛解读为首尔方面夺回作战控制权的努力可能会有所延迟。韩国希望在2028年之前——也就是李明博2030年任期结束之前——重新夺回作战控制权，而布伦森则提到了2029年第一季度。

韩国国防部当时对布伦森的言论表示不安，称如果情况持续变化，这次调动永远不可能实现。