U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday called for a balanced approach to the transfer of wartime operational control to South Korea that honors long-standing U.S. military roles.
Hegseth made the remarks at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. “I think we have to find the balance of where our military plans and the responsibilities that U.S. uniformed members have had for decades now are honored,” he said.
South Korea has proposed completing the transfer as early as 2028. U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson suggested meeting conditions by the first quarter of 2029.
Hegseth also welcomed South Korea’s plans for nuclear-powered submarines and its decision to raise defense spending to 3.5 percent of GDP. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back described the U.S. stance as reflecting deep mutual trust.
