politics
South Korea and U.S. Continue OPCON Transfer Talks After Senate Bill Adds Reporting Requirement
South Korean and U.S. defense officials remain in discussions on the wartime operational control transition. A U.S. Senate provision would require the defense secretary to submit progress reports to Congress every 90 days through 2030.
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South Korea and the United States continue talks on the transfer of wartime operational control, a defense ministry official said Friday, after a U.S. Senate bill introduced new congressional reporting requirements. The proposed provision in the National Defense Authorization Act would direct the U.S. defense secretary to deliver a report every 90 days, beginning no later than March 1 next year and continuing through 2030.
Each report must include assessments from the U.S. Pacific Command commander and the U.S. Forces Korea commander on conditions agreed to by both sides in 2018.
Background on the Transition Process The allies are in the second phase of a three-stage process that requires verification of the combined forces' full operational capability before the transfer can occur. South Korea has stated it wants to complete that certification and set a target year for the transfer by this fall.
The defense ministry official said both countries share the view that completing the transition will strengthen combined defense on the Korean Peninsula. The official added that South Korea has communicated its position to U.S. lawmakers and will continue to do so while the legislation remains under discussion.
A separate meeting between the South Korean defense minister and U.S. lawmakers took place last month at the Shangri-La defense forum in Singapore, where the minister briefed attendees on capabilities and the percentage of conditions already met.
