(3rd LD) S. Korea, U.S. agree to postpone key bilateral security dialogue to early next year: Seoul

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(ATTN: RECASTS lead; ADDS details in paras 7, 12-13) By Kim Seung-yeon

SEOUL, Oct. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States have agreed to postpone their key annual security dialogue to early next year, Seoul's defense ministry said Wednesday, amid perceived disagreements over advancing the transition of wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington to Seoul.

The decision came after bilateral talks between Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the sidelines of a regional defense ministers' meeting in the Philippines, the ministry said.

The two sides also agreed to hold another round of bilateral talks in Washington next month, it added.

"Secretary Hegseth reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the wartime operational control (OPCON) transition, and the minister and the secretary agreed to work closely to ensure a smooth and timely OPCON transfer," the ministry said in a release.

"In this context, sharing the view on the importance of successfully hosting the historic 58th South Korea-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), they agreed to hold defense-ministerial talks in Washington in December and convene the SCM in early 2027," it said.

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul (R) poses with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during their bilateral talks ahead of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus in Cebu, the Philippines, on Oct. 28, 2026, in this photo provided by South Korea's defense ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

The announcement confirmed growing speculation that the allies may push back the annual SCM amid apparent friction over moving forward with the wartime OPCON transition from Washington to Seoul.

Before Wednesday's announcement, it had been widely expected that this year's SCM would take place in December. The SCM, a key bilateral dialogue platform between Seoul and Washington for broad discussions on alliance and security issues, is typically held in late October or early November.

Seoul seeks to regain wartime OPCON before the Lee Jae Myung administration's five-year term ends in 2030, pushing to announce a target year for the OPCON transfer at the upcoming SCM.

Washington, however, has expressed reservations about rushing the process for political reasons, emphasizing the conditions agreed upon by the allies must be fully met. Chief among them is for Seoul to possess core capabilities to lead combined forces once the handover occurs.

The allies are currently in the process of verifying the "full operational capability" (FOC) of South Korean forces, the second stage of a three-phase, "conditions-based" OPCON transition plan.

While Seoul officials say those requirements have been met, the U.S. maintains that they have yet to be fulfilled, with U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson recently stating that "conditions have changed" and that there were "new standards" to uphold.

The decision to delay the SCM and hold bilateral talks prior to the SCM meeting suggests that both sides have at least agreed to seek tangible progress in the ongoing OPCON transition at the top defense officials' level.

During a parliamentary audit earlier this week, Kang said the U.S. shares an understanding on setting the target year for the OPCON handover, stressing that Seoul is closely consulting with Washington on the issue.

The 40-minute talks, held on the margins of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) Plus, marked their first meeting since Kang took office in September.

At the talks, Kang highlighted the bilateral alliance spanning more than 70 years as a linchpin of regional peace and prosperity, expressing hope to further advance their ties in a comprehensive and strategic one based on steadfast trust and the "fight together" spirit, the ministry said.

Hegseth, in turn, voiced expectations that their defense authorities will continue to strengthen cooperation as the two countries maintain a robust combined defense posture, according to the ministry.

elly@yna.co.kr (END)

U.S. stresses conditions for wartime OPCON transfer amid S. Korea's push to set target year

(LEAD) Defense chiefs of S. Korea, U.S. to hold talks in Philippines ahead of ASEAN meeting

Defense ministry says Kang's 'U.S. trust' remarks meant to counter lawmaker's OPCON transfer doubts

S. Korea, U.S. closely coordinating on setting target year for OPCON transfer: defense chief

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

(3rd LD) S. Korea, U.S. agree to postpone key bilateral security dialogue to early next year: Seoul

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（注意：重写导语；在第7、12-13段添加细节）金承妍

首尔，10 月 28 日（韩联社）——韩国国防部周三表示，由于双方在推进战时作战指挥权（OPCON）从华盛顿移交给首尔的问题上存在分歧，韩国和美国已同意将重要的年度安全对话推迟到明年初。

韩国国防部表示，这一决定是在韩国国防部长康信哲与美国国防部长皮特·赫格塞斯在菲律宾举行的地区国防部长会议间隙进行双边会谈后做出的。

声明还补充说，双方还同意下个月在华盛顿举行另一轮双边会谈。

“赫格塞斯部长重申了美国对战时作战控制权（OPCON）过渡的承诺，部长和部长同意密切合作，以确保顺利及时地移交作战控制权，”国防部在一份声明中表示。

声明称：“在此背景下，双方对成功举办具有历史意义的第58届韩美安全磋商会议（SCM）的重要性达成共识，同意于12月在华盛顿举行国防部长会谈，并于2027年初召开安全磋商会议。”

2026年10月28日，韩国国防部长康信哲（右）与美国国防部长皮特·赫格塞斯在菲律宾宿务举行的东盟防长扩大会议前举行双边会谈。此照片由韩国国防部提供。（照片不得出售）（韩联社）

该公告证实了越来越多的猜测，即盟军可能会推迟年度战略指挥会议，原因是双方在推进战时作战指挥权从华盛顿移交给首尔的问题上存在明显的摩擦。

在周三的公告发布之前，外界普遍预期今年的南海安全对话（SCM）将于12月举行。南海安全对话是首尔和华盛顿之间就联盟和安全问题进行广泛讨论的重要双边对话平台，通常在10月下旬或11月初举行。

首尔希望在李在明政府五年任期于 2030 年结束之前重新获得战时作战指挥权，并力争在即将召开的 SCM 会议上宣布作战指挥权移交的目标年份。

然而，华盛顿方面对出于政治原因仓促推进这一进程表示保留意见，并强调盟国商定的条件必须得到全面满足。其中最重要的是，首尔必须具备在权力交接完成后领导联合部队的核心能力。

盟军目前正在核实韩国军队的“全面作战能力”（FOC），这是分三个阶段进行的“基于条件”的作战能力过渡计划的第二阶段。

尽管首尔官员表示这些要求已经得到满足，但美国方面坚持认为这些要求尚未得到满足。驻韩美军司令泽维尔·布伦森将军最近表示，“情况已经改变”，并且需要遵守“新的标准”。

推迟战略指挥会议并在战略指挥会议之前举行双边会谈的决定表明，双方至少已同意在最高国防官员层面寻求在正在进行的作战指挥权交接方面取得切实进展。

本周早些时候，康在国会接受审计时表示，美方与首尔就作战指挥权移交目标年份达成共识，并强调首尔正在就此问题与华盛顿密切磋商。

在东盟防长扩大会议期间举行的40分钟会谈，标志着康京和自9月上任以来的首次会晤。

据外交部称，康在会谈中强调，两国长达70多年的联盟是地区和平与繁荣的基石，并表示希望在坚定互信和“携手共进”精神的基础上，进一步推进两国关系的全面战略合作。

据国防部称，赫格塞斯则表示，希望两国国防部门继续加强合作，以保持强大的联合防御态势。

elly@yna.co.kr（完）

美国强调战时作战指挥权移交的条件，韩国则力促设定目标年。

（导语）韩国和美国国防部长将在东盟会议前夕于菲律宾举行会谈

国防部称康健仁关于“信任美国”的言论意在反驳议员对作战指挥权移交的质疑。

韩国国防部长：韩国和美国正密切协调，确定作战指挥权移交的目标年份

（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。

（第三份声明）首尔方面表示，韩国和美国同意将关键的双边安全对话推迟到明年初。