S. Korea, U.S. aim to meet conditions for OPCON transfer no later than 2Q of FY 2029: USFK commander

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The top U.S. general in South Korea said the allies aim to meet all conditions required for the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) to Seoul no later than the second quarter of fiscal year 2029, with a roadmap already delivered to the Pentagon. The statement, made during a House Armed Services Committee hearing in Washington, comes as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's administration seeks to retake wartime OPCON before its five-year term ends in 2030.

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Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, told lawmakers that the allies have delivered a roadmap to the Office of the Secretary of War that would achieve the transfer "not later than second quarter of FY 29." Fiscal year 2029 runs from Oct. 1, 2028, through Sept. 30, 2029, indicating the allies aim to satisfy the transition conditions between January and March 2029.

Brunson stressed that the transfer remains conditions-based, saying, "We will continue to press for the conditions-based OPCON transfer and ensure that all the conditions are met." The conditions include South Korea's capabilities to lead combined Korea-U.S. forces, its strike and air defense capabilities, and a regional security environment conducive to such a handover.

Seoul's defense ministry responded to Brunson's remarks by stating that a timeline for the handover will be set at this year's Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), an annual defense ministerial meeting held every autumn. Spokesperson Chung Binna said the defense ministers will make a decision at the SCM and propose it to the presidents of the two countries. She noted that Seoul and Washington are pushing for the transfer in a "systemic, stable and consistent" manner, but did not specify a timing, despite speculation that Seoul was seeking a transfer in 2028.

In a separate forum, U.S. expert Bruce Klingner, senior fellow at the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation, downplayed concerns that the OPCON transfer would weaken the alliance. He argued that the transfer would not "unzip" the bilateral alliance, citing Washington's pledge to provide "enduring" defense capabilities, the mutual defense treaty, and the presence of around 28,500 American troops on the Korean Peninsula.

Key claims

• Gen. Xavier Brunson said a roadmap has been delivered to the Pentagon for meeting conditions for OPCON transfer, with a target of not later than the second quarter of fiscal year 2029.
• The conditions include South Korea's capabilities to lead combined forces, strike and air defense capabilities, and a favorable regional security environment.
• Brunson emphasized his focus is "strictly on capabilities over numbers" as the allies work to modernize the bilateral alliance.
• Seoul's defense ministry said a timeline will be set at the Security Consultative Meeting and proposed to the leaders of both countries.
• The U.S. maintains around 28,500 troops on the Korean Peninsula, according to Klingner.
• After OPCON transfer, a South Korean general would lead combined forces, with a U.S. general in a supporting role, a change in command structure that Klingner said differs from "operational command."