(LEAD) U.S. cites evolving 'threat environment' amid debate over OPCON transition to S. Korea

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(ATTN: REWRITES headline, lead; UPDATES throughout with comments from separate senior official) By Chang Dong-woo

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- A senior U.S. official said Tuesday the requirements for the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) to South Korea remain unchanged but stressed that the threat environment on the Korean Peninsula was evolving faster than ever before.

"The fundamental requirements for OPCON transfer have not changed. But the threat environment is evolving faster now than ever before," the official told Yonhap News Agency in response to a media inquiry on the state of the bilateral OPCON transition review process.

"Together, we must be prepared to deter and defeat all regional threats to the alliance," the official, who asked not to be identified, added.

The official appeared to reflect concerns over evolving threats posed by advancements in Pyongyang's missile and nuclear programs.

Separately, the Pentagon reaffirmed that the transfer of wartime OPCON to South Korea remains a conditions-based process agreed upon by Washington and Seoul, stressing that the necessary requirements must be met before any transition takes place.

"The transition of wartime OPCON remains a conditions-based process mutually agreed upon by the United States and the Republic of Korea," a Pentagon official told Yonhap News Agency.

"Both nations remain committed to ensuring that the necessary conditions are met before any transition occurs. We will not prejudge decisions or outcomes of this bilateral process," the official said, while speaking on condition of anonymity.

The U.S. officials' remarks come after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung reiterated Monday that Seoul should retake wartime OPCON at an early date.

"Speaking frankly, OPCON must be returned at an early date. (We) are sufficiently capable of doing so, and (related) talks between South Korea and the U.S. are basically going well in that direction," Lee said during a meeting with reporters to mark his 500th day in office.

His remarks came amid a perceived gap between Seoul and Washington over the timing of the OPCON transition, with the Lee administration seeking to retake it before its term ends in 2030, or even earlier.

At an event in Washington last week, U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson said that "conditions have changed," citing North Korea's recent missile launches, and indicated that such changes called for new standards for the OPCON transfer.

Seoul's defense ministry spokesperson later said the goal of the transfer might never be achieved if the goalposts keep moving.

South Korea handed over OPCON to the U.S.-led U.N. Command during the 1950-53 Korean War. It was then transferred to the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command, headed by the USFK chief, when the command was launched in 1978. Seoul retook peacetime OPCON in 1994, but wartime OPCON remains in U.S. hands.

This undated file photo provided by the Pentagon shows the Pentagon building in Arlington, Virginia. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

odissy@yna.co.kr (END)

U.S. sees OPCON transfer efforts as chance for improvement in S. Korea's warfighting capability: Colby

(2nd LD) Lee says wartime operational control must be retaken at early date

(LEAD) U.S. cites evolving 'threat environment' amid debate over OPCON transition to S. Korea

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。

（注意：重写标题和导语；全文更新，加入另一位高级官员的评论）作者：张东宇

华盛顿，10 月 20 日（韩联社）——一位美国高级官员周二表示，将战时作战指挥权（OPCON）移交给韩国的要求仍然不变，但他强调，朝鲜半岛的威胁环境正在以前所未有的速度变化。

“作战指挥权移交的基本要求没有改变。但现在的威胁环境变化速度比以往任何时候都快，”这位官员在回应韩联社关于双边作战指挥权移交审查进程状况的媒体询问时表示。

这位要求匿名的官员补充说：“我们必须共同做好准备，遏制并击败所有对联盟的区域性威胁。”

这位官员似乎表达了对平壤导弹和核计划发展所带来的不断演变的威胁的担忧。

另外，五角大楼重申，将战时作战指挥权移交给韩国仍然是华盛顿和首尔商定的一个有条件的过程，并强调在进行任何过渡之前，必须满足必要的条件。

五角大楼一名官员告诉韩联社：“战时作战指挥权的交接仍然是一个基于条件的过程，需要美国和韩国双方共同商定。”

这位不愿透露姓名的官员表示：“两国仍致力于确保在过渡发生前满足必要条件。我们不会预先判断这一双边进程的决定或结果。”

美国官员发表上述言论之前，韩国总统李在明周一重申，首尔应该尽早重新夺回战时作战控制权。

李明博在就职500天之际与记者会面时表示：“坦率地说，作战控制权必须尽早归还。（我们）完全有能力做到这一点，而且韩美之间的（相关）谈判基本上朝着这个方向进展顺利。”

在他发表这番言论之际，首尔和华盛顿之间似乎在作战指挥权交接的时间问题上存在分歧，李明博政府希望在 2030 年任期结束前甚至更早重新夺回作战指挥权。

上周在华盛顿举行的一次活动中，驻韩美军司令泽维尔·布伦森将军表示，“情况已经发生了变化”，他以朝鲜最近的导弹发射为例，并指出这种变化需要新的作战指挥权移交标准。

首尔国防部发言人随后表示，如果目标不断变化，那么此次移交的目标可能永远无法实现。

在1950-53年的朝鲜战争期间，韩国将作战指挥权移交给了以美国为首的联合国军司令部。1978年，当由驻韩美军司令领导的韩美联合司令部成立时，作战指挥权又移交给了该司令部。首尔于1994年重新获得了和平时期的作战指挥权，但战时作战指挥权仍然掌握在美国手中。

这张由五角大楼提供的未注明日期的资料照片显示了位于弗吉尼亚州阿灵顿的五角大楼。（照片非卖品）（韩联社）

odissy@yna.co.kr (完)

美国将作战指挥权移交视为提升韩国作战能力的契机：科尔比

（第二段）李说，战时作战控制权必须尽早夺回。

（导语）美国在关于作战指挥权移交给韩国的辩论中，援引不断变化的“威胁环境”作为论据。