Brunson refuses to back down on his position on OPCON transfer

U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson warned Wednesday at an AMCHAM luncheon in Seoul that North Korea’s military capabilities and regional security threats are evolving, as debate continues over wartime operational control transfer. A senior U.S. official said in Washington a day earlier that the agreed transfer requirements remain unchanged, and the Pentagon reaffirmed that the process is conditions-based. Brunson said USFK training would adapt to new challenges and called for closer integration of allied production, maintenance and supply chains. U.S. Ambassador Michelle Park Steel also urged improvements to South Korea’s business environment amid friction over Coupang.

Brunson cited North Korea’s continued use and advancement of ballistic and cruise missiles, deepening defense cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow, and gray-zone activities.

Brunson said the alliance’s mission remains to defend the Republic of Korea and maintain the armistice, and emphasized combined readiness and security support for South Korea.

Brunson pointed to Korean shipyards’ ability to repair U.S. naval vessels and return them to operations quickly as an example of allied industrial capability.

Steel said American companies in Korea deserve to compete fairly and without discrimination; the comment was widely seen as referring to Coupang, which faced investigation and discipline over a customer data breach disclosed late last year.

Published Oct 21, 2026 4:30 pm KST

Updated Oct 21, 2026 6:07 pm KST

High-profile US figures warn of evolving threats

U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson, right, speaks during an American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM)-hosted uncheon at a hotel in Seoul, Wednesday. On the left is U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Park Steel. The two were the featured speakers at the event, attended by Korean and American business leaders. Yonhap

The Korean Peninsula faces a rapidly evolving threat environment, U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson and a senior U.S. official said in back-to-back warnings from Seoul and Washington, raising questions about how those changes could affect the timing of the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON).

Their remarks followed a renewed dispute over the OPCON transfer after Brunson suggested on Oct. 14 that evolving threats called for new transition standards, drawing objections from Seoul’s defense ministry and an unusual response from President Lee Jae Myung.

“Our security environment is not standing still. We see continued DPRK use of ballistic and cruise missiles and their advancements,” Brunson said Wednesday at a luncheon hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM), using the acronym for North Korea’s official name.

Brunson and U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Park Steel were the featured speakers at the event, attended by Korean and American business leaders.

Held to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the U.S., the program explored the alliance’s security, economic and strategic dimensions and opportunities for closer cooperation.

“We see dangerous, deepening defense cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow, and we see persistent gray zone activities intended to test our resolve and challenge regional stability,” the USFK commander added.

Brunson did not address the OPCON transfer criteria or other recent controversies concerning the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) during the luncheon.

A day earlier in Washington, a senior U.S. official said the agreed requirements for the OPCON transfer remain unchanged despite the evolving threat environment.

“The fundamental requirements for OPCON transfer have not changed. But the threat environment is evolving faster now than ever before,” the official is quoted saying by Yonhap News Agency on condition of anonymity.

“Together, we must be prepared to deter and defeat all regional threats to the alliance,” the official added.

The Pentagon separately reaffirmed that the handover remains a conditions-based process mutually agreed upon by Seoul and Washington, according to Yonhap.

“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,” a Pentagon official said.

At the AMCHAM event, Brunson stressed that the alliance’s mission remains firm despite the shifting security landscape.

“Against that shifting picture, our mission remains immovable: to defend the Republic of Korea, to maintain the armistice,” he said.

The USFK commander also emphasized supporting South Korea, maintaining combined readiness and ensuring both countries’ security.

Brunson said USFK’s training on the Korean Peninsula would change to address new challenges, requiring the allies to train and exercise together.

Addressing industry leaders, Brunson emphasized the people and industrial capabilities underpinning the alliance.

“Credible deterrence does not begin and end with a platform,” he said. “I think it’s built on people, and it’s sustained by the industrial and technological foundation that stands behind it.”

He urged closer integration of production, maintenance and supply chains, citing Korean shipyards’ ability to repair U.S. naval vessels and return them to operations quickly.

The gathering took place as the allies manage differences over trade and business conditions alongside the OPCON dispute.

Steel called for improvements to Seoul's business environment, saying, “American companies in Korea deserve to compete on a level playing field fairly and without discrimination.”

The comment was widely seen as a reference to Coupang, a U.S. e-commerce company that has faced investigation and discipline over a massive customer data breach disclosed late last year. Disagreements over the issue have fueled diplomatic friction between the two countries.

Steel said her embassy team works daily to improve operating conditions and remains open to discussions.

“You cannot separate prosperity and security,” Steel said. “Security makes prosperity possible, and prosperity makes us more secure.”

AMCHAM Chairman James Kim likewise said economic security and national security are now inseparable.

驻韩美军司令泽维尔·布伦森将军周三在首尔举行的美国商会午餐会上警告说，随着战时作战指挥权移交问题的争论持续，朝鲜的军事能力和地区安全威胁正在不断演变。一位美国高级官员前一天在华盛顿表示，双方商定的移交要求保持不变，五角大楼也重申，移交过程是有条件的。布伦森表示，驻韩美军的训练将适应新的挑战，并呼吁加强盟国生产、维护和供应链的整合。美国驻韩大使朴美玲也敦促韩国改善营商环境，以应对因Coupang平台引发的摩擦。

布伦森列举了朝鲜持续使用和发展弹道导弹和巡航导弹、平壤和莫斯科之间不断深化的防务合作以及灰色地带活动。

布伦森表示，该联盟的使命仍然是保卫大韩民国并维护停战协定，并强调要加强对韩国的联合战备和安全支持。

布伦森指出，韩国造船厂能够修理美国海军舰艇并使其迅速恢复作战能力，这是盟国工业能力的一个例子。

Steel表示，在韩国的美国公司应该享有公平竞争和不受歧视的权利；此番言论被广泛认为是指Coupang，该公司因去年底披露的客户数据泄露事件而面临调查和处罚。

发布于2026年10月21日下午4:30（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月21日 下午6:07（韩国标准时间）

美国知名人士警告称，威胁正在不断演变。

驻韩美军司令泽维尔·布伦森将军（右）周三在首尔一家酒店出席由韩国美国商会（AMCHAM）主办的交流会并发表讲话。左侧是美国驻韩国大使朴美雪（Michelle Park Steel）。两人是此次交流会的主讲嘉宾，出席活动的还有众多韩国和美国商界领袖。（韩联社）

驻韩美军司令泽维尔·布伦森将军和一位美国高级官员在首尔和华盛顿相继发出警告，称朝鲜半岛正面临快速变化的威胁环境，这引发了人们对这些变化将如何影响战时作战控制权（OPCON）移交时间的疑问。

此前，布伦森于 10 月 14 日提出，不断变化的威胁需要新的过渡标准，这引发了关于作战指挥权移交的新一轮争论，并招致了首尔国防部的反对和李在明总统的罕见回应。

“我们的安全环境并非一成不变。我们看到朝鲜民主主义人民共和国继续使用弹道导弹和巡航导弹，并且这些导弹还在不断改进，”布伦森周三在韩国美国商会（AMCHAM）举办的午餐会上说道，他使用了朝鲜的正式名称缩写。

布伦森和美国驻韩国大使朴美玲是本次活动的特邀演讲嘉宾，韩国和美国的商界领袖出席了活动。

为纪念美国建国 250 周年，该计划探讨了联盟的安全、经济和战略层面，以及加强合作的机会。

“我们看到平壤和莫斯科之间危险的、不断加深的防务合作，我们也看到持续不断的灰色地带活动，旨在考验我们的决心并挑战地区稳定，”驻韩美军司令补充道。

午餐期间，布伦森没有谈及作战指挥权移交标准或最近有关非军事区 (DMZ) 的其他争议。

一天前在华盛顿，一位美国高级官员表示，尽管威胁环境不断变化，但作战指挥权移交的商定要求仍然保持不变。

据韩联社报道，一位不愿透露姓名的官员表示：“作战指挥权移交的基本要求没有改变。但威胁环境的变化速度比以往任何时候都快。”

“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，”这位官员补充道。

据韩联社报道，五角大楼另行重申，权力交接仍然是首尔和华盛顿双方共同商定的、以条件为基础的过程。

五角大楼一位官员表示：“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。”

在美商会活动上，布伦森强调，尽管安全形势不断变化，但联盟的使命依然坚定。

“面对这种不断变化的形势，我们的使命依然不变：保卫大韩民国，维护停战协定，”他说。

驻韩美军司令还强调支持韩国，保持联合战备状态，确保两国安全。

布伦森表示，驻韩美军在朝鲜半岛的训练将做出改变以应对新的挑战，这需要盟军共同训练和演习。

布伦森在向行业领袖发表讲话时，强调了支撑该联盟的人员和产业能力。

“可信的威慑力并非始于平台，也并非止于平台，”他说。“我认为它建立在人的基础上，并由支撑它的工业和技术基础所维系。”

他敦促加强生产、维护和供应链的整合，并指出韩国造船厂有能力修理美国海军舰艇并使其迅速恢复运行。

此次会议召开之际，盟国正在努力解决贸易和商业条件方面的分歧，以及作战指挥权争端。

斯蒂尔呼吁改善首尔的营商环境，并表示：“在韩国的美国公司理应在公平公正、不受歧视的环境下进行竞争。”

这条评论被广泛认为是指美国电商公司Coupang。该公司因去年底披露的大规模客户数据泄露事件而面临调查和处罚。围绕这一问题的分歧加剧了两国之间的外交摩擦。

斯蒂尔表示，她的使馆团队每天都在努力改善运营条件，并始终愿意进行讨论。

斯蒂尔说：“繁荣与安全密不可分。安全使繁荣成为可能，而繁荣又使我们更加安全。”

美国商会主席詹姆斯·金也表示，经济安全与国家安全如今已密不可分。