South Korea seeks wartime control back from US; annual defence talks pushed to 2027

Centre · 1South Korea wants to take back wartime command of its troops from the United States, but Washington has not committed to a date, according to the South China Morning Post. 1 Centre · 1The US has held wartime operational control (OPCON) since shortly after the Korean war began in 1950. In a war, designated South Korean units would come under the Combined Forces Command, led by US General Xavier Brunson. 1 Centre · 1On 28 October, South Korea and the US postponed their annual Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) to next year, Anadolu Agency reported. The decision came at the first meeting between US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and South Korean Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul, held in Cebu City, the Philippines, on the sidelines of the 13th ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus. 2

Centre · 1South Korea's defence ministry said the two sides agreed to hold the 58th SCM in early 2027, and that Kang and Hegseth will meet again in Washington in December. The meeting is usually held in late October or early November. 2 Centre · 1The ministry's statement said Hegseth reaffirmed US commitment to the OPCON transition and that both ministers agreed to cooperate so it proceeds smoothly "at the right time". It gave no date. 2 Centre · 2Seoul had hoped to announce a target year for the transfer at the SCM. Yonhap, cited by Anadolu, said Seoul wants OPCON back before President Lee Jae Myung's term ends in 2030. Kang had earlier said Seoul was in close consultation with Washington on a target year and that the SCM was a possible venue for an announcement. 2 1

Centre · 1Lee said last week that South Korea "must reclaim OPCON at an early date" and is "fully capable of doing so". Seoul's defence ministry has warned that the US changing or adding requirements risks "moving the goalposts". 1 Centre · 1Brunson has said any transfer must be conditions-based rather than tied to a political timeline, citing North Korean missile launches and the need for new standards, critical capabilities and full mission readiness. According to the SCMP, analysts say Washington officially maintains that Seoul has not yet met its conditions. 1 Centre · 1Analysts quoted by the SCMP say the US has a further motive. Kim Yeol-soo of the Korea Institute for Military Affairs called it an "undeclared motive" of keeping influence over South Korea's military to address challenges from China. Doo Jin-ho of Kyungnam University said Washington wants the alliance to contain China as well as deter North Korea. 1

Centre · 1The issue is also contested in Seoul. At a parliamentary audit on Monday, People Power Party lawmaker Sung Il-jong said the country's survival was at stake and urged "extreme caution". Kang said that was excessive and that Seoul might "not necessarily" be able to count on the US in a war. The ministry later said Sung had raised US difficulties in Iran and Kang was only making a counterargument about mutual trust. 1 Centre · 1Within the ruling Democratic Party, adviser Kim Byung-joo has urged Seoul to declare it will exercise OPCON independently if Washington keeps blocking progress, and to legislate the president's wartime authority. Kang rejected this, saying OPCON must be transferred through close consultation with mutual trust. 1