Kang Sinchul: "Transition of Wartime Operational Control Will Strengthen ROK-U.S. Alliance"

On Minister of National Defense Nominee Kang's First Day
On Military Academy Integration: "Aware of Concerns... Will Strive to Nurture Outstanding Talents"

Kang Sinchul, the nominee for Minister of National Defense, stated on the 3rd, regarding the transition of wartime operational control, "We will pursue it in a direction that strengthens the ROK-U.S. alliance."

Kang Sinchul, the nominee for Minister of National Defense, is answering reporters' questions as he enters the Defense Convention in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, where the hearing preparation office was set up on the 3rd. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

On his first day reporting to the hearing preparation office set up at the Defense Convention in Seoul on the morning of September 3, Kang told reporters, "The transition of wartime operational control is possible because of the ROK-U.S. alliance," and added, "If the alliance did not exist, there would have been no discussion of the transition at all."

The government aims to go through the Full Operational Capability (FOC) verification for the Future Combined Forces Command at this year's ROK-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) and to determine the target year for the transition of wartime operational control between the two countries.

Regarding the government's initiative to integrate the Army, Navy, and Air Force academies, Kang said, "I am aware there are various opinions and concerns," and added, "I believe all of them stem from a genuine love for our military." He continued, "I will do my best to ensure we nurture outstanding talent."

However, he avoided giving a clear answer as to whether the government's plan to integrate the academies might be reconsidered or withdrawn. He remarked, "The past us, the present us, and even the future us—it's all us. The military academies have always been with the history of the Republic of Korea." He added, "The future military academies will belong to no one else, but to our country, the Republic of Korea."

Regarding the personnel hearing scheduled for September 16, Kang commented, "There are defense policies that we must pursue," and added, "I hope the hearing will be an opportunity to discuss and debate the direction of those policies."

When asked whether he was involved or implicated in the martial law declared on December 3 as the deputy commander of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command, Kang answered, "Chief Presidential Secretary Kang Hoonshik has provided a clear answer to this matter." Previously, when Kang was nominated last month, Secretary Kang had stated, "Based on the findings of the Constitutional Respect Task Force and the Ministry of National Defense's audit, there is no evidence of involvement."

Kang Sinchul is a graduate of the 46th class of the Korea Military Academy and has held positions including Director of Operations at the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Deputy Commander of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command. He also served as Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. President Lee Jaemyung nominated Kang as Minister of National Defense on August 30.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.