Defense minister nominee vows to seek OPCON transfer in way that strengthens S. Korea-U.S. alliance

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SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- Defense Minister nominee Kang Shin-chul said Thursday he will pursue the transition of wartime operational command (OPCON) from Washington in a way that will strengthen the South Korea-U.S. alliance.

Kang, ex-deputy commander of the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command, made the remarks as Seoul has been seeking to regain wartime command before President Lee Jae Myung's five-year term ends in 2030.

Under the three-phase OPCON transition plan, the allies are at the second stage of verifying the combined forces' "full operational capability (FOC)," with Seoul aiming to complete the FOC assessment process within this year.

"We will pursue the transition of OPCON in a way that will strengthen the South Korea-U.S. alliance," Kang told reporters on his way to work to prepare for a parliamentary confirmation hearing.

South Korea has been hoping to set a target year for the OPCON handover at this year's annual Security Consultative Meeting between the allies' defense chiefs this fall.

In a recent Cabinet reshuffle, Kang was nominated as the new defense minister to replace Ahn Gyu-back, who has served as the first civilian defense chief under the Lee administration.

He is currently South Korea's ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

Defense Minister nominee Kang Shin-chul responds to press ahead of a parliamentary hearing in central Seoul on Sept. 3, 2026. (Yonhap)

sookim@yna.co.kr (END)

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Defense minister nominee vows to seek OPCON transfer in way that strengthens S. Korea-U.S. alliance

这将使谷歌能够向您展示与您的搜索匹配或相关的韩联社新闻文章。

首尔，9月3日（韩联社）——韩国国防部长提名人姜信哲周四表示，他将以加强韩美同盟的方式推进战时作战指挥权（OPCON）从华盛顿的移交。

曾任韩美联合部队司令部副司令的康发表上述言论之际，首尔方面正寻求在李在明总统五年任期于 2030 年结束之前重新夺回战时指挥权。

根据三阶段作战指挥权过渡计划，盟军正处于验证联合部队“全面作战能力（FOC）”的第二阶段，首尔的目标是在今年内完成FOC评估过程。

“我们将以加强韩美同盟的方式推进作战指挥权的交接，”康在上班准备国会确认听证会的路上告诉记者。

韩国一直希望在今年秋季举行的盟军国防部长年度安全磋商会议上，为作战指挥权的移交设定一个目标年份。

在最近的一次内阁改组中，康被提名为新的国防部长，接替了李明博政府首位文职国防部长安圭培。

他目前是韩国驻沙特阿拉伯大使。

2026年9月3日，国防部长提名人姜信哲在首尔市中心出席国会听证会前接受记者采访。（韩联社）

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国防部长提名人誓言寻求以加强韩美同盟的方式移交作战指挥权