Korea seeks to complete key OPCON verification, set transfer year by Dec.

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul said Monday that South Korea and the United States are working to complete the second-stage verification of wartime operational control transfer and agree on a target year by the end of 2026. The allies are expected to discuss the timeline at their annual Security Consultative Meeting in December. Kang said the three agreed conditions for the transfer remain the basic framework, despite U.S. concerns that North Korea’s evolving military capabilities may require reassessing the standards.

The Full Operational Capability assessment is the second of three verification phases for the future Combined Forces Command, which is to be led by a Korean four-star general.

The three conditions are South Korea’s ability to lead combined defense operations, the allies’ ability to counter North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats, and a security environment suitable for a stable transfer.

Kang said Seoul had raised concerns with Washington about Gen. Xavier Brunson’s remarks and that the U.S. side had shown some understanding.

Asked what Seoul would do if Washington declined to agree on a transfer year at the meeting, Kang said the allies were working closely and that he favored a transfer through consultation and mutual trust.

Published Oct 26, 2026 3:59 pm KST

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul answers lawmakers' questions during a parliamentary audit of the defense ministry at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday. Newsis

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul said Monday that Seoul is working with Washington to complete the second stage of verification for the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) and agree on a target year for the handover by the end of 2026.

Kang also said the three conditions previously agreed upon by the allies remain valid, despite recent remarks by Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, suggesting that the standards for meeting those conditions may need to change.

“We are closely consulting with the U.S. to complete the full operational capability (FOC) verification and determine a target year for the transfer,” Kang told lawmakers during a parliamentary audit of the defense ministry.

He was responding to Rep. Kim Byung-joo of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, who called for the allies to agree on a transfer timeline at their annual Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), expected to take place in the United States in December.

The FOC assessment is the second stage of a three-phase verification process to assess whether the future Combined Forces Command, led by a Korean four-star general, can carry out its wartime missions.

Under the three conditions, Korea must have the military capabilities to lead combined defense operations, the allies must be able to counter North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats and the security environment must be suitable for a stable transfer.

Asked whether those conditions still stand, Kang replied, “Yes. The three conditions remain the basic framework.”

His response followed Brunson’s recent comments that North Korea’s evolving military capabilities could require the allies to reassess standards previously considered sufficient for the transfer.

Kang said Seoul had raised concerns with Washington over Brunson’s remarks and that the U.S. side had shown some understanding.

“I cannot disclose everything discussed between the two sides, but there were areas of agreement,” he said.

Kim also asked what Seoul would do if Washington declined to agree on a transfer year at the SCM, arguing that Korea should declare its intention to exercise wartime OPCON independently if negotiations failed.

Kang stopped short of endorsing the proposal.

“We can consider various options, but for now we are working closely with the U.S.,” he said. “My position remains that the transfer should take place through close consultations between the allies, with mutual trust assured.”

Seoul pushes back against US signal for OPCON transfer delay

President reaffirms push to reclaim wartime OPCON by 2028

韩国国防部长康信哲周一表示，韩国和美国正努力完成战时作战指挥权移交的第二阶段核查，并商定在2026年底前完成移交的目标年份。预计双方将在12月举行的年度安全磋商会议上讨论这一时间表。康信哲表示，尽管美国担心朝鲜不断发展的军事能力可能需要重新评估相关标准，但此前商定的三项移交条件仍然是基本框架。

全面作战能力评估是未来联合部队司令部三个验证阶段中的第二个阶段，该司令部将由一名韩国四星上将领导。

这三个条件是：韩国领导联合防御行动的能力、盟军应对朝鲜核导弹威胁的能力，以及适合稳定移交的安全环境。

康表示，首尔方面已就泽维尔·布伦森将军的言论向华盛顿表达了关切，美方也表示理解。

当被问及如果华盛顿在会议上拒绝就交接年达成一致，首尔会怎么做时，康表示，盟友们正在密切合作，他倾向于通过协商和互信的方式进行交接。

发布于2026年10月26日下午3:59（韩国标准时间）

周一，韩国国防部长姜信哲在首尔国会出席国防部听证会，并回答议员们的提问。（Newsis）

韩国国防部长姜信哲周一表示，首尔正在与华盛顿合作，完成战时作战指挥权移交的第二阶段核查，并商定在2026年底前完成移交的目标年份。

康还表示，尽管驻韩美军司令泽维尔·布伦森将军最近发表言论，暗示满足这些条件的标准可能需要改变，但盟军此前商定的三项条件仍然有效。

康在国防部接受国会审计时告诉议员：“我们正在与美国密切磋商，以完成全面作战能力（FOC）验证，并确定移交目标年份。”

他是在回应韩国执政党共同民主党议员金炳柱的呼吁。金炳柱呼吁盟国在预计于 12 月在美国举行的年度安全磋商会议 (SCM) 上就移交时间表达成一致。

FOC 评估是三阶段验证过程的第二阶段，旨在评估由韩国四星上将领导的未来联合部队司令部是否能够执行其战时任务。

在上述三个条件下，韩国必须具备领导联合防御行动的军事能力，盟国必须能够应对朝鲜的核导威胁，安全环境必须适合稳定移交。

当被问及这些条件是否仍然成立时，康回答说：“是的。这三个条件仍然是基本框架。”

他的回应是在布伦森最近发表评论之后做出的，布伦森表示，朝鲜不断发展的军事能力可能要求盟国重新评估之前认为足以进行武器转让的标准。

康表示，首尔方面已就布伦森的言论向华盛顿表达了关切，美方也表示理解。

“我无法透露双方讨论的所有细节，但确实存在一些共识，”他说。

金还问，如果华盛顿拒绝同意在战略指挥中心进行权力交接，首尔会怎么做？他认为，如果谈判失败，韩国应该宣布其打算独立行使战时作战指挥权。

康并未明确表示支持该提议。

他说：“我们可以考虑多种方案，但目前我们正与美国密切合作。我的立场仍然是，此次移交应在盟友间密切磋商的基础上进行，并确保互信。”

首尔方面拒绝美国要求推迟移交作战指挥权的信号。

总统重申将在2028年前重新夺回战时作战控制权