Politics · South Korea · 3 hrs ago
Former U.S. diplomat says wartime command transfer may be slow
Former U.S. diplomat Joseph Yun says the transfer of wartime command to South Korea may move slowly.
He made the comments at a virtual forum as he assessed the remaining two years of President Donald Trump's administration.
The transfer would put South Korea in charge of wartime operational control, which remains with the United States.
The allies are pursuing a conditions-based transfer, with no target year, while Seoul wants it before President Lee Jae Myung's term ends in 2030.
Yun also said Washington has no consensus on South Korea's requests for uranium enrichment and nuclear submarines.
The issue is divisive in South Korea: supporters call the transfer a restoration of military sovereignty, while opponents fear it could weaken the alliance as North Korea's nuclear threats evolve.
The allies have not set a transfer date, and Washington says the required conditions must be met.
Former U.S. diplomat Joseph Yun said the transfer of wartime operational control from Washington to Seoul may not move forward rapidly.
Yun said there is no consensus in Washington on South Korea’s push for uranium enrichment rights or nuclear submarines.
He said the OPCON transfer could weaken the U.S.-South Korea alliance, while describing the issue as political in South Korea and technical in the United States.
South Korea wants to retake wartime OPCON before President Lee Jae Myung’s term ends in 2030, while Washington says conditions for the transfer must be met.
- Who
- Joseph Yun, a former acting U.S. ambassador to South Korea and special representative for North Korea, gave the assessment.
- What
- He said the wartime OPCON transfer may not move forward swiftly. He also said Washington has no consensus on uranium enrichment or nuclear submarines for South Korea.
- When
- Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026.
- Where
- Yun spoke virtually at a forum hosted by the Korea-U.S. Parliamentarians' Union.
- Why
- Yun cited a lack of consensus in Washington on the alliance issues. He also said the transfer could weaken the alliance.
OPCON transfer proponents
OPCON transfer opponents
Purpose
OPCON transfer proponents
Proponents equate the transfer with restoring South Korea’s military sovereignty.
OPCON transfer opponents
Opponents argue it could undercut the alliance amid North Korea’s evolving nuclear threats.
Alliance impact
OPCON transfer proponents
Some say South Korea’s growing military capabilities could offset a reduced U.S. security burden.
OPCON transfer opponents
Yun said South Korea cannot regain wartime OPCON without some weakening of the alliance.
South Korea handed operational control of its troops to the U.S.-led U.N. Command during the Korean War.
Operational control was transferred to the allies' Combined Forces Command when it was launched.
South Korea retook peacetime OPCON, while wartime OPCON remained in U.S. hands.
Yun gave his assessment at a virtual forum hosted by the Korea-U.S. Parliamentarians' Union.
- Speaker
- Joseph Yun
- Wartime OPCON
- Remains in U.S. hands
- South Korea's target
- Retake wartime OPCON before President Lee Jae Myung's term ends in 2030
- Washington's position
- No consensus on uranium enrichment or nuclear submarines for South Korea
- Forum
- Korea-U.S. Parliamentarians' Union
1 source
What people are saying
I cannot imagine (the OPCON transfer efforts) moving very rapidly
Same thing with nuclear issues. There is no consensus in Washington that Korea ought to have enrichment or nuclear submarines.
In South Korea, people want to have the OPCON back with no weakening of the alliance. That is impossible
But that's a political decision South Korea has to make.