OPCON
South Korea's Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back urged service members on Friday to thoroughly prepare for the transition of wartime operational control from the United States. The Lee Jae Myung administration seeks to complete the second phase of the condition-based transfer assessment this year, aiming for full transfer before the end of its five-year term in 2030. The remarks appeared in a New Year's message posted on Facebook.
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South Korea and US defense chiefs agreed in Seoul to develop a roadmap expediting conditions for wartime operational control (OPCON) transfer. The pact aligns with President Lee Jae Myung's push to regain OPCON by 2030. The joint communique omitted pledges to maintain current US Forces Korea levels, fueling drawdown speculation.