South Korea Capable of Reclaiming Wartime Command, President Lee Says

POLICY WIRE — Seoul, South Korea — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung stated on Monday that the nation is fully prepared to reclaim wartime operational control of its combined forces with the United States as ongoing discussions with Washington continue to advance.

President Lee reaffirmed his administration’s determination to achieve the transition during a Monday briefing in Seoul, emphasizing that the country possesses the necessary capabilities to assume full responsibility for allied forces.

Seoul is actively pressing Washington to establish a definitive timeline for the transfer of wartime operational control, commonly referred to as OPCON. President Lee has insisted that the authority be handed back to a South Korean general before his presidential term concludes in 2030, with a target framework pointing toward 2028.

The push for military autonomy comes amid ongoing debates among analysts regarding regional foreign policy, particularly as critics raise concerns about balancing the alliance with Beijing’s strategic sensitivities.

Wartime operational authority grants the power to direct military forces if armed conflict breaks out on the peninsula. That commanding responsibility has remained in American hands since the outbreak of the 1950-53 Korean War.

Initially, wartime control was transferred to the U.S.-led United Nations Command during the conflict before shifting in 1978 to the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command. That vital leadership position has historically been held by an American four-star general.

Although Seoul successfully reclaimed peacetime operational control of its domestic military forces back in 1994, the wartime authority has stayed under United States jurisdiction until the ongoing diplomatic talks achieve a breakthrough.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)