Politics · South Korea · 6 hrs ago
US resistance to wartime command transfer review delays Korea-US meeting
South Korea and the US disagree over transferring wartime operational control of their combined forces.
The transfer depends on checks of whether South Korea’s military can operate effectively in wartime.
A three-stage process checks those capabilities, and the FOC review is its second stage.
The South Korean government wanted to finish the review this year, but the US has been reluctant to complete it on time.
The countries’ security consultative meeting has been postponed to December, an unusual delay.
If the review is not completed this year, South Korea’s plan for a transfer as early as next year could be disrupted.
The United States has reportedly opposed completing this year’s review of South Korea’s wartime operational control capabilities.
The disagreement has delayed the Korea-US Security Consultative Meeting, or SCM, until December, according to the Chosun Ilbo headline.
South Korea had planned to complete the review, known as FOC, by the end of this year.
Failure to complete it this year could disrupt the government’s plan to transfer wartime operational control as early as next year.
FOC is the second of three stages for checking South Korea’s wartime operational capabilities.
- Who
- The South Korean and US governments.
- What
- The US has reportedly resisted completing this year the FOC review needed for the transfer of wartime operational control, delaying the SCM until December.
- When
- The report was published on October 13, 2026. The meeting was postponed to December.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- The two sides differ over completing the FOC review this year.
South Korean government
US
FOC review
South Korean government
South Korea planned to complete the review by the end of this year.
US
The US reportedly expressed reluctance to complete it this year.
Wartime control transfer
South Korean government
The government aimed to transfer wartime operational control as early as next year.
US
Not stated.
South Korea planned to complete the FOC review.
The Chosun Ilbo reported US reluctance over completing the review this year.
The Korea-US Security Consultative Meeting was postponed to this month.
- Review
- FOC, the second of three stages
- Planned completion
- By the end of 2026
- Meeting
- Korea-US Security Consultative Meeting postponed to December
- Potential transfer
- As early as 2027
1 source
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