Korea-US annual security meeting pushed to early 2027

South Korea and the United States agreed Wednesday in Cebu, Philippines, to hold their annual Security Consultative Meeting in early 2027, delaying the alliance gathering that had been expected in December. Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also agreed to meet in Washington in December and reaffirmed their commitment to defense cooperation and a strong combined defense posture. The delay comes as Seoul seeks to complete verification of the future Combined Forces Command’s full operational capability and set a target year for wartime operational control transfer.

The ministers’ first face-to-face meeting was initially scheduled for 15 minutes but lasted about 40 minutes, with simultaneous interpretation.

Kang told lawmakers Monday that the governments were working to complete full operational capability verification and determine a target year for the transfer by the end of 2026.

Full operational capability verification is the second stage of a three-stage, conditions-based process assessing the readiness of a future combined command led by a Korean four-star general.

The verification assesses specific capabilities required for the future combined command to carry out its missions, rather than the overall military capabilities of the alliance.

The U.S. Department of Defense cited scheduling conflicts among senior officials when it said Tuesday that the meeting was expected in early 2027.

Published Oct 28, 2026 4:08 pm KST

Updated Oct 28, 2026 8:43 pm KST

Washington reaffirms commitment to wartime OPCON transfer in defense chiefs' talks

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul, right, poses with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during their meeting on the sidelines of the 13th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Cebu, Philippines, Wednesday. Courtesy of Ministry of National Defense

Korea and the United States have agreed to hold their annual Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) in early 2027, pushing back the flagship alliance gathering that had been expected in October before slipping to November and then December, a delay that is likely to set back Seoul’s push to advance the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON).

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the postponement during their first face-to-face meeting Wednesday on the sidelines of a regional defense gathering in Cebu, Philippines. The two ministers also agreed to hold a bilateral defense meeting in Washington in December, ahead of the rescheduled SCM, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening defense cooperation and maintaining a strong combined defense posture.

The meeting, initially scheduled to take 15 minutes, lasted about 40 minutes. Conducted with simultaneous interpretation, the extended talks allowed for in-depth discussion of alliance issues.

Before departing for the Philippines, Kang said the SCM schedule might need to be discussed with Washington, noting that the U.S. side had its own circumstances to consider.

“There are circumstances on their side, so I think we need to hear what they have to say,” Kang told reporters when asked whether the meeting could be pushed beyond December.

Asked whether he would personally raise the SCM schedule with Hegseth, Kang said, “I think we need to discuss it if necessary. I believe it is an important issue.”

The SCM, traditionally held in the fall, had initially been expected to take place in November before being pushed back to December. However, the U.S. Department of Defense said Tuesday that the meeting was expected to be held in early 2027, citing scheduling conflicts among senior officials.

The agreement reached on Wednesday confirmed the postponement, ending uncertainty over whether the annual meeting would take place this year.

The ministers also agreed that holding a successful 58th SCM would be important for the alliance.

Before the agreement, a U.S. defense official had described the decision to postpone the meeting as having been mutually agreed upon, but Seoul had maintained that no schedule had been finalized.

Earlier Wednesday, Korea’s defense ministry had said, “We are consulting with the U.S. Department of Defense, taking into account mutually available dates, and no specific details have been finalized.”

Despite the differing public statements, scheduling difficulties on the U.S. side are believed to be a major factor behind the delay. Washington faces competing priorities, including ongoing military operations and political developments at home, which could complicate efforts to arrange the annual meeting before the end of the year.

Wednesday’s meeting also emphasized a continued shared commitment. Hegseth reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to OPCON transfer, while the two ministers agreed to work closely to ensure the transition proceeds smoothly and in a timely manner.

“As the minister has repeatedly said, there are no major differences between Korea and the U.S.,” a military official noted. “Any differences at the military level can be resolved through close consultations.”

Kang said he hoped the two countries would further develop their alliance into a “future-oriented comprehensive strategic alliance” based on mutual trust and a commitment to “fight together.”

Hegseth expressed hope that the two countries would strengthen defense cooperation while maintaining a robust combined defense posture.

While the allies have faced questions over the pace of OPCON transfer, the latest talks indicated that both sides remain committed to moving the process forward through close consultations.

The postponement comes as Seoul seeks to complete the full operational capability (FOC) verification of the future Combined Forces Command and agree with Washington on a target year for OPCON transfer.

Kang told lawmakers Monday that the government was working with the United States to complete the verification process and determine a target year by the end of 2026.

FOC verification is the second stage of a three-stage, conditions-based process to assess the readiness of a future combined command led by a Korean four-star general.

The allies have also faced questions over whether the standards used to assess the conditions for OPCON transfer should change to reflect evolving security threats.

The FOC verification is also understood to assess specific capabilities required for the future combined command to carry out its missions, rather than the overall military capabilities of the alliance, which continue to evolve in response to changing security threats.

韩国和美国周三在菲律宾宿务达成一致，将年度安全磋商会议推迟至2027年初举行，原定于12月举行的联盟会议也因此延期。韩国国防部长康信哲和美国国防部长皮特·赫格塞斯还同意于12月在华盛顿会晤，并重申了双方对防务合作和强大联合防御态势的承诺。此次会议延期正值首尔方面寻求完成对未来联合部队司令部全面作战能力的核查，并设定战时作战指挥权移交的目标年份之际。

部长们的首次面对面会晤原定时间为 15 分钟，但持续了约 40 分钟，并配有同声传译。

康明凯周一告诉立法者，两国政府正在努力完成全面作战能力验证，并确定在2026年底前完成移交的目标年份。

全面作战能力验证是评估由韩国四星上将领导的未来联合司令部战备情况的三阶段、基于条件的流程的第二阶段。

此次核查评估的是未来联合司令部执行任务所需的具体能力，而不是联盟的整体军事能力。

美国国防部周二表示，由于高级官员之间的日程安排冲突，预计会议将在 2027 年初举行。

发布于2026年10月28日下午4:08（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月28日晚上8:43（韩国标准时间）

华盛顿在国防部长会谈中重申了对战时作战指挥权移交的承诺

韩国国防部长康信哲（右）周三在菲律宾宿务举行的第十三届东盟防长扩大会议期间与美国国防部长皮特·赫格塞斯会晤。图片由韩国国防部提供。

韩国和美国已同意在 2027 年初举行年度安全磋商会议 (SCM)，推迟了原定于 10 月举行的旗舰联盟会议，该会议后来推迟到 11 月，然后又推迟到 12 月，这一延误可能会阻碍首尔推进战时作战控制权 (OPCON) 移交的努力。

韩国国防部长康信哲和美国国防部长皮特·赫格塞斯周三在菲律宾宿务举行的区域防务会议间隙举行了首次面对面会晤，确认了原定于12月举行的联合防务会议延期。两位部长还同意在重新安排的联合防务会议之前，于12月在华盛顿举行双边防务会议，重申了双方致力于加强防务合作和保持强大的联合防御态势的承诺。

会议原计划持续15分钟，但实际持续了约40分钟。由于采用了同声传译，延长的会谈时间使得双方能够深入讨论联盟问题。

康在启程前往菲律宾之前表示，可能需要与华盛顿方面讨论战略指挥会议的日程安排，并指出美方也有自己的情况需要考虑。

当被问及会议是否有可能推迟到 12 月之后时，康告诉记者：“他们那边也有一些情况，所以我认为我们需要听听他们的说法。”

当被问及是否会亲自向赫格塞斯提出SCM赛程安排的问题时，姜孝林表示：“我认为如有必要，我们需要讨论一下。我相信这是一个重要的问题。”

战略指挥会议（SCM）通常在秋季举行，最初预计在11月举行，后推迟至12月。然而，美国国防部周二表示，由于高级官员之间的日程冲突，会议预计将于2027年初举行。

周三达成的协议确认了延期，结束了今年年会能否举行的不确定性。

部长们还一致认为，成功举行第58届南海会议对联盟而言至关重要。

在达成协议之前，一位美国国防官员曾表示，推迟会议的决定是双方共同商定的，但首尔方面一直坚称尚未最终确定会议日程。

周三早些时候，韩国国防部曾表示：“我们正在与美国国防部进行磋商，并考虑双方都能接受的日期，目前尚未确定具体细节。”

尽管双方公开声明不一，但据信美方日程安排困难是导致会议延期的主要原因。华盛顿面临着多项优先事项，包括正在进行的军事行动和国内政治局势，这可能会使在年底前安排年会变得更加复杂。

周三的会晤还强调了双方持续的共同承诺。赫格塞斯重申了华盛顿对作战指挥权移交的承诺，两位部长也同意密切合作，确保过渡工作顺利及时地进行。

一位军方官员指出：“正如部长多次所说，韩美之间没有重大分歧。任何军事层面的分歧都可以通过密切磋商解决。”

康表示，他希望两国能够进一步发展成为基于互信和“共同奋斗”承诺的“面向未来的全面战略联盟”。

赫格塞斯表示希望两国在保持强大的联合防御态势的同时，加强防务合作。

尽管盟军在作战指挥权移交速度方面面临质疑，但最近的会谈表明，双方仍然致力于通过密切磋商推进这一进程。

此次推迟是因为首尔方面希望完成未来联合部队司令部的全面作战能力（FOC）验证，并与华盛顿就作战指挥权移交的目标年份达成一致。

康明凯周一告诉立法者，政府正在与美国合作完成核查程序，并确定在2026年底前完成核查的目标年份。

FOC 验证是评估由韩国四星上将领导的未来联合司令部战备状态的三阶段、基于条件的流程的第二阶段。

盟军还面临着这样的问题：用于评估作战指挥权移交条件的标准是否应该改变，以反映不断变化的安全威胁。

FOC 验证也被理解为评估未来联合司令部执行任务所需的具体能力，而不是评估联盟的整体军事能力，而联盟的军事能力会随着安全威胁的变化而不断发展。