Defense chiefs of S. Korea, U.S. set to hold talks amid OPCON transfer push, Hormuz ship issue

Lead

South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held talks in Washington on Monday, focusing on the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington to Seoul and South Korea's push to acquire nuclear-powered submarines.

The meeting at the Pentagon came as Seoul seeks to regain wartime command of its troops from the US before President Lee Jae Myung's five-year term ends in 2030. According to a joint readout released by the Pentagon, both sides agreed to remain in close contact and strengthen cooperation in areas of "mutual security interest," including the OPCON transition and alliance modernization.

Coverage Comparison

Multiple Yonhap articles reported on the talks and the surrounding developments. All reports agreed on the core facts: South Korea is seeking to retake OPCON before 2030, and the US currently holds wartime operational control. The reports also consistently noted that the two sides appear to have different views on the timing of the transfer.

Seoul is reportedly targeting 2028 for the transition, while US Forces Korea commander Gen. Xavier Brunson told Congress last month that the allies aim to meet the conditions for the transfer no later than the first quarter of 2029. Brunson's proposed timeline suggests the transfer may not be ready even after President Donald Trump's term ends on Jan. 20, 2029.

A Yonhap analysis piece highlighted broader concerns about the alliance, noting that the defense ministers' meeting did not include discussions on North Korea's nuclear program. The article also pointed to the unusual schedule of US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who was set to meet Japanese and Chinese officials but was not scheduled to meet his South Korean counterparts, suggesting South Korea's strategic value may be slipping in Washington's priorities.

Defense Minister Ahn, speaking before departing for Washington, sought to downplay the differences. "South Korean and U.S. officials made significant progress in 2015 regarding the wartime OPCON transfer under a conditions-based agreement," he told reporters at Incheon International Airport. He added that he did not believe there was "any major issue with accelerating the OPCON transition."

National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac, in comments aired on KBS on Sunday, echoed that sentiment. "It is not as though the two sides differ by five to 10 years regarding the timing of the transfer. The stances of the two are quite close," he said, describing the issue as "a political decision."

Key Claims

• South Korea and the US are discussing the transfer of wartime OPCON, with the US currently holding that authority.
• South Korea is seeking to retake OPCON before President Lee Jae Myung's term ends in 2030, reportedly targeting 2028.
• US Forces Korea commander Gen. Xavier Brunson told Congress that the allies aim to meet the conditions for the transfer no later than the first quarter of 2029.
• The two sides have different views on the timing of the transfer, though a senior South Korean official said the stances are "quite close" and called the issue "a political decision."
• South Korea is also pushing to build nuclear-powered submarines with US support.
• The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) leader Jang Dong-hyeok has criticized the government's push as "hasty," expressing concern that it might signal a withdrawal of US Forces Korea.