South Korea defense ministry reviews progress on wartime operational control transfer

The defense ministry on Wednesday reviewed progress toward completing verification of full operational capability this year, a step required for the transfer of wartime operational control from the United States. The meeting addressed efforts to finalize a joint roadmap before the annual Security Consultative Meeting scheduled for October.

Quarterly review schedule Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back stated that such meetings will be held every quarter this year. The goal is to complete the transfer during President Lee Jae Myung's term, which ends in 2030. Officials also received updates on converting the special operations command of the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command into a permanent unit by the end of the year.

Component command transitions Four of six component commands have already become standing units. The change allows U.S. troops to be assigned regularly to combined planning and training roles. Ahn said conditions for restoring wartime operational control are now in place after two decades of preparation.

The ministry also discussed measures to maintain the integrity of a South Korea-led joint defense posture after the transfer. South Korea regained peacetime operational control in 1994, but wartime control remains with the United States.