Senior presidential official downplays Korea-US gap over OPCON transfer timeline, conditions

A senior Cheong Wa Dae official said Friday that Korea and the United States have little difference over the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON), downplaying concerns that the allies remain divided over its timing and conditions. “The gap between the two sides is not that large ... There is little difference in how the two sides assess relevant conditions," the official said on condition of anonymity, concerning bilateral consultations on Korea’s push to take over the wartime command from the U.S. Seoul is seeking to regain wartime OPCON around 2028, or even earlier if possible. Washington, however, is reportedly favoring a more cautious timeline, with U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson saying in April that the conditions would be met by the first quarter of 2029. The official noted that the allies have been working for more than 10 years to meet the conditions for the transfer, even before the Lee administration started in 2025. The official also noted that differences over the timing of the transfer are manageable. “(The gap in timeline) is about o

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