The Korea Times
The U.S. announcement of transferring Wartime Operational Control (OPCON) to the Republic of Korea by early 2029 has moved from quiet discussion to strategic signaling. When Gen. Xavier T. Brunson, commander of United States Forces Korea (USFK), referenced this timeline during testimony at the U.S. House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday (local time), it carried weight. This was not political rhetoric. It was a professional military assessment. But a timeline, even one acknowledged by a senior commander, is not a strategy. Confusing the two would be a serious mistake. The current framework governing OPCON transition remains the Conditions-Based OPCON Transition Plan (COT-P). It does not operate on deadlines. It operates on capability, readiness and the security environment. These conditions exist for one reason: War does not wait for political calendars. If 2029 is to be taken seriously, then Korea must treat it not as a target date, but as a test. At the center of this discussion is not sovereignty. Korea already possesses full sovereignty. The real issue is responsibility — speci
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