Defense Ministry: "If We Keep Moving the Goalposts, OPCON Transfer Will Never Happen"

Spokesperson Jung Bitna Assesses Commander Brunson's Remarks

Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Jeong Bitna said on October 15, regarding changes to the conditions for transferring wartime operational control (OPCON) mentioned by U.S. Forces Korea Commander Xavier Brunson, "I think that if we keep moving the goalposts, OPCON can never be transferred." Her remarks were seen as strongly reflecting the view that the assessment criteria for the transfer should not change.

At a regular briefing that day, Jeong said she would answer "in my personal capacity," rather than on behalf of the Ministry of National Defense, in response to a question suggesting that the United States might believe the conditions for the OPCON transfer could change. She added, "The Ministry of National Defense's official position is that South Korea and the United States are holding close consultations based on the Conditions-based OPCON Transition Plan (COTP), which the two countries agreed upon."

Yonhap News Agency

South Korea and the United States have been pursuing the OPCON transfer under the COTP agreed upon at the 2015 Security Consultative Meeting (SCM). The conditions for the transfer agreed upon by the two countries are broadly divided into three areas: the military capabilities needed to lead combined defense; the alliance's comprehensive capability to respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats; and the security environment on the Korean Peninsula and in the region, conducive to a stable OPCON transfer. The two countries jointly assess detailed tasks under each condition, and the results are then reviewed by a regular consultative body between their defense and military authorities.

The United States, however, is understood to have maintained that the conditions could change in response to shifts in the battlefield environment, including the North Korean threat. At a seminar hosted by a U.S. think tank the previous day, U.S. Forces Korea Commander Xavier Brunson said, "You only have to glance at the news to see that the conditions have clearly changed. North Korea carried out another missile launch this week." He added, "The conditions have changed, and because we have changed our plan, there are new standards we have to meet."

Within the South Korean government, there has reportedly been concern that the U.S. military authorities' position means Washington is shifting the "goalposts" for the OPCON transfer.

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