The U.S. Defense Department reaffirmed that the conditions agreed upon by the United States and South Korea must be met regarding President Lee Jae-myung's expressed intention to expedite the transfer of wartime operational control.
In a written response to Voice of America (VOA) on October 19, the Defense Department stated, "The transfer of wartime operational control remains a process based on conditions mutually agreed upon by the U.S. and South Korea," adding that both countries continue to share the commitment to ensure that necessary conditions are met before the transfer occurs.
VOA's inquiry referenced comments by U.S. Forces Korea Commander General Xavier Brunson regarding changes in the conditions for the transfer of operational control and President Lee's reaffirmation of his intent to expedite the transfer.
The Defense Department's response is interpreted as a reaffirmation of the principle that the transfer of operational control should be judged based on the fulfillment of conditions agreed upon by the U.S. and South Korea, rather than aligning with political timelines.
The conditions agreed upon by the U.S. and South Korea for the transfer of operational control include: ▲ military capabilities necessary for leading joint defense efforts, ▲ comprehensive capabilities to respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, and ▲ a security environment on the Korean Peninsula and in the region conducive to a stable transfer.
Earlier, on October 14, General Brunson stated at a seminar hosted by the Gold International Strategy Institute in Washington, D.C., regarding the transfer of operational control, "None of us can say that conditions have not changed."
He mentioned recent North Korean missile launches, stating, "Conditions have changed, and we have adjusted our plans, which has created new standards we must adhere to."
His remarks suggest that the conditions for the transfer of operational control may vary depending on security situations, leading some to interpret that General Brunson effectively put the brakes on the transfer.
In response, Defense Ministry spokesperson Jeong Bit-na stated on October 15, under the premise of personal opinion, "If we keep moving the goalposts, I believe the transfer of operational control will never happen," reflecting domestic pushback.
This sentiment arises from the understanding that the evaluation criteria should not change as the U.S. and South Korea have been pursuing the transfer of operational control based on the 2015 'Conditions-Based Operational Control Transfer Plan' (COTP).
President Lee Jae-myung also emphasized his commitment to the transfer during a press briefing on October 19, marking the 500th day of his administration, stating, "It must be returned swiftly," and noted that discussions with the U.S. are fundamentally oriented toward the return of operational control. He reaffirmed his intention to bring operational control back as initially planned.
President Lee further remarked, "We use the term 'transfer' for operational control, but in fact, it should be expressed as 'recovery' or 'return.' As a sovereign independent nation, we must regain operational control to meet the minimum requirements as a state," adding that South Korea, ranked fifth globally in conventional military strength, cannot afford to leave operational control in the hands of the U.S. any longer.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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