An official from the ministry's spokesperson's office told AJP that Kang is expected to attend the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM+) in the Philippines in late October, but Hegseth's attendance remains unclear.
"We are going, but we don't yet know whether the U.S. side will attend," the official said.
"For now, we are only discussing the possibility of meeting if they come," the official added, stressing that even the format of a potential meeting has not been decided.
The clarification came after a report on Wednesday that the two defense chiefs were in discussions over a possible first face-to-face meeting on the sidelines of the ADMM+, scheduled for around Oct. 27–30.
Kang told a media outlet earlier in the day that the two sides were discussing a possible meeting, although no specific arrangements had been announced.
The potential talks come as Seoul and Washington remain divided over whether the conditions for transferring wartime operational control (OPCON) from the United States to South Korea have been met.
Kang acknowledged that the two countries still have some differences in perspective over the conditions for the transfer, according to Yonhap.
South Korea has sought to complete the full operational capability (FOC) verification process for its future combined command this year, a key step toward determining a target year for the OPCON transfer.
The issue is expected to be discussed at the annual Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), which the two allies are considering holding in December, later than usual.
The defense ministry has said the SCM schedule remains under discussion with Washington and that no specific date has been finalized.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.
