Hegseth calls talk of shaky S. Korea-U.S. alliance 'fake news:' Seoul's defense minister首尔国防部长赫格塞斯称有关韩美同盟关系不稳的说法是“假新闻”。
SEOUL, Oct. 30 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth brushed off conce...
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SEOUL, Oct. 30 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth brushed off concerns over a perceived growing rift in the South Korea-U.S. alliance as "fake news," Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul said Friday after a bilateral meeting with his U.S. counterpart earlier this week.
Kang said the secretary made the comment when the minister brought up South Korean media reports citing alliance friction over key bilateral issues, including an apparent gap in advancing the wartime operational control (OPCON) transition from Washington to Seoul.
"Regarding the many stories that are coming out, Secretary Hegseth summed it up in just one phrase: 'Fake news,' and I agree," Kang told reporters upon arriving for work following his three-day trip to the Philippines.
He was asked whether any disagreements arose while addressing key issues during his meeting with Hegseth.
"I believe those claims cannot, and must not, shake the rock-solid foundation of the South Korea-U.S. alliance," Kang 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)
Kang met one-on-one with Hegseth for about 40 minutes on the margins of a regional defense ministers' meeting in Cebu on Wednesday, his first sit-down with the U.S. defense chief since taking office in September.
Following the talks, the two sides announced the postponement of their key annual security dialogue, the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), to early next year, delaying the dialogue from its usual fall timeframe.
The announcement further fueled speculation over a widening rift in the alliance, particularly what has been regarded as disagreements in the timing of the OPCON transfer.
Kang stressed that he had a "good" meeting with Hegseth where the two sides could reaffirm the "unwavering strength" of their alliance.
"I would say that the biggest takeaway (from the talks) was that we agreed to align our thoughts on the OPCON transition," he said.
Seoul wants to retake wartime OPCON from Washington before the Lee Jae Myung administration's five-year term ends in 2030. Washington, however, has expressed reservations about a rushed handover out of political reasons.
Seeking to move forward with the OPCON transfer, Seoul's defense ministry said Thursday it will pursue a "top-down" approach to the process, signaling that it will push for a breakthrough during another bilateral meeting between Kang and Hegseth in December and at the upcoming SCM.
elly@yna.co.kr (END)
S. Korea seeks 'top-down' approach with U.S. for breakthrough in OPCON transfer
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U.S. stresses conditions for wartime OPCON transfer amid S. Korea's push to set target year
S. Korea, U.S. closely coordinating on setting target year for OPCON transfer: defense chief
Top U.S. envoy cites 'turbulence' in S. Korea-U.S. alliance amid rift in security, trade priorities
Hegseth calls talk of shaky S. Korea-U.S. alliance 'fake news:' Seoul's defense minister
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首尔，10月30日（韩联社）——韩国国防部长姜信哲周五在与美国国防部长举行双边会晤后表示，美国国防部长皮特·赫格塞斯驳斥了外界对韩美同盟日益加深的裂痕的担忧，称其为“假新闻”。
康表示，部长提及韩国媒体报道，称两国联盟在关键双边问题上存在摩擦，其中包括在推进战时作战指挥权（OPCON）从华盛顿移交给首尔方面存在明显差距，当时这位秘书发表了上述评论。
“对于许多报道，赫格塞斯部长用一句话概括：‘假新闻’，我同意，”康在结束为期三天的菲律宾之行返回工作岗位后告诉记者。
他被问及在与赫格塞斯会面讨论关键问题时是否出现任何分歧。
“我认为这些说法不能，也不应该动摇韩美同盟的坚实基础，”康说。
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）
周三，康在宿务举行的地区国防部长会议间隙与赫格塞斯进行了约 40 分钟的单独会晤，这是他自 9 月上任以来首次与美国国防部长会面。
会谈结束后，双方宣布将重要的年度安全对话——安全磋商会议（SCM）推迟到明年初举行，将对话时间从通常的秋季推迟。
该公告进一步加剧了人们对联盟内部裂痕加深的猜测，尤其是关于作战指挥权移交时间的分歧。
康强调，他与赫格塞斯进行了一次“良好的”会晤，双方重申了他们联盟的“坚定不移的力量”。
他说：“我认为（会谈中）最大的收获是我们同意在运营控制权过渡问题上达成共识。”
首尔希望在李在明政府五年任期于2030年结束之前，从华盛顿手中重新夺回战时作战指挥权。然而，出于政治原因，华盛顿对仓促移交作战指挥权表示保留意见。
为推进作战指挥权移交，首尔国防部周四表示，将采取“自上而下”的方式推进该进程，这表明将在12月康和赫格塞斯的另一次双边会晤以及即将举行的SCM会议上推动取得突破。
elly@yna.co.kr（完）
韩国寻求与美国采取“自上而下”的方式，以期在作战指挥权移交方面取得突破。
（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。
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。
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
美国最高特使称，由于安全和贸易优先事项出现分歧，韩美同盟关系正处于“动荡”之中。
首尔国防部长赫格塞斯称有关韩美同盟关系不稳的说法是“假新闻”。