South Korea believes the final verification stage for regaining wartime operational control from the United States can be completed in about one year, potentially allowing the transfer as early as next year, according to a source.
South Korea and the United States are working on the OPCON transfer based on a three-phase assessment framework to verify Seoul's ability to lead combined forces. They are currently in the second stage of validating full operational capability and plan to complete it by the end of this year to announce a target year.
A defense ministry official told reporters on Wednesday that if the target year is decided during this year's FOC validation, they will move straight to the FMC phase, entering the final stage of the transfer upon its completion.
Realization remains uncertain due to the need for close coordination with Washington, where the United States is believed to take a more cautious approach. The allies plan to finalize a roadmap to accelerate the transition before this year's Security Consultative Meeting.
During senior-level talks last week, Seoul explained its bid to secure civilian access control over a section of the Demilitarized Zone.
