South Korea's Defense Minister Kang Shin-cheol and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth held their first face-to-face meeting on October 28, but they reportedly failed to narrow their differences regarding the transfer of wartime operational control. As a result, the U.S.-South Korea Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), originally expected to take place in December, has been postponed until early next year. This marks the first time since 1998 that the SCM will extend into the following year.
According to the Ministry of National Defense, Minister Kang met with Hegseth during the 13th ASEAN Expanded Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM-Plus) held in the Philippines. The two sides agreed to hold a separate U.S.-South Korea defense ministerial meeting in December in Washington, with the 58th SCM scheduled for early 2027.
Previously, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that the SCM was postponed by mutual agreement due to scheduling conflicts among the leaders of both countries. The South Korean Ministry of National Defense maintained that they were still discussing mutual availability and had not finalized specific details until after the meeting, when they officially announced the agreement for early next year.
During the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to cooperate on the transfer of wartime operational control. The Ministry stated, "Secretary Hegseth reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the transfer of wartime operational control, and both ministers agreed to work closely to ensure a smooth and timely transition." However, the announcement did not include specific agreements on the timeline for the transfer or the completion of verification of Full Operational Capability (FOC) for the future combined command. It remains unclear whether the differences between the two countries regarding the timing and conditions for the transfer have been resolved.
The government aimed to complete the second phase of verification for the transfer of wartime operational control, known as FOC, during this year's SCM and propose a timeline for the transfer to the leaders of both countries. However, reports indicate that there are differing opinions on whether the conditions have been met to complete the FOC verification.
In 2014, the U.S. and South Korea agreed on three conditions for the transfer of wartime operational control during the SCM: the South Korean military's ability to lead combined defense, the capability to respond to North Korean nuclear and missile threats, and a security environment conducive to a stable transition. Differences in the assessment of whether these conditions have been met have led to disagreements over the timing and pace of the transfer.
While the U.S. cited scheduling issues as the official reason for postponing the SCM, it is believed that the differing views on the transfer of wartime operational control also played a role.
During the meeting, Minister Kang emphasized, "The U.S.-South Korea alliance has served as a cornerstone for peace and prosperity in the region for over 70 years," and expressed hope that it would evolve into a future-oriented comprehensive strategic alliance based on strong trust and the commitment to 'fight together.'
Secretary Hegseth responded, stating, "I look forward to strengthening cooperation between our defense authorities while maintaining a robust combined defense posture."
Meanwhile, Minister Kang is scheduled to address the issue of North Korea's landmine provocations south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) at the main session of the ASEAN Expanded Defense Ministers' Meeting on October 29. He plans to explain the South Korean government's efforts for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and seek the interest and support of participating countries.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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