U.S. Stresses Agreed Conditions as Lee Pushes for Early OPCON Return

The Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. The U.S. Department of War has reaffirmed that mutually agreed conditions must be met before wartime operational control is transferred to South Korea. The U.S. Department of War has reaffirmed its existing position that the military and security conditions mutually agreed upon by South Korea and the United States must be satisfied before the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON). The response comes as President Lee Jae-myung has publicly expressed his determination to expedite the return of OPCON, with Washington making clear that meeting and verifying the previously agreed conditions must take precedence over the speed of the transfer. According to Voice of America (VOA) on Oct. 20, the U.S. Department of War stated in a written response regarding OPCON transfer that "the transfer of wartime operational control remains a conditions-based process mutually agreed upon by the United States and South Korea." It added that both countries continue to agree on ensuring that the necessary conditions are met before a transfer takes place and that it would not prejudge the outcome or decisions of this bilateral process. The day before, President Lee met with reporters at the Chunchugwan Press Hall at Cheong Wa Dae and expressed a strong commitment to the early return of OPCON. Lee emphasized that South Korea must regain wartime operational control as quickly as possible, while claiming that consultations between South Korea and the United States were also fundamentally proceeding toward its return. In particular, Lee emphasized that the terms "return" or "restoration" should be used in place of "transfer." This reflects his view that South Korea, having attained a ranking of fifth in the world in conventional military capabilities excluding nuclear forces, is in a position to take responsibility for its own defense. However, regardless of this assessment of military strength, the actual transfer of OPCON requires that the specific conditions agreed upon by both countries be met and verified. The U.S. Department of War's response has also drawn attention in conjunction with recent remarks by Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of United States Forces Korea. At a seminar held in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 14, Brunson referenced changes in the security environment, including North Korea's missile launches, and stated that "conditions have changed and because we changed plans, there are new standards to be upheld." Brunson's remarks suggest the possibility that the assessment criteria for OPCON transfer have been strengthened or modified. However, the U.S. Department of War provided no further explanation regarding the specific nature of the changes Brunson mentioned or whether the existing assessment criteria had actually been altered. The three major conditions for OPCON transfer agreed upon by South Korea and the United States at the 2014 Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) are as follows: securing the core military capabilities necessary for South Korean forces to lead combined defense operations; ensuring that the alliance possesses comprehensive capabilities to counter North Korea's nuclear and missile threats; and establishing a security environment on the Korean Peninsula and in the surrounding region conducive to a stable transfer. The U.S. Department of War's renewed emphasis on the conditions-based principle is seen as a commitment to thoroughly verifying the agreed military and security requirements rather than rushing OPCON transfer to meet a political timetable. Unlike the South Korean government, which has emphasized the need for an early return and the speed of the process, Washington continues to uphold the principle that the substantive conditions necessary to ensure the stability of the combined defense posture after the transfer must be met first. Whether those conditions have been fulfilled and how they will be verified are expected to become central issues in future consultations, taking precedence over Seoul's push for an accelerated return.