Discord from US Commander over OPCON Transfer – Is the Alliance Intact?
Concerning remarks have emerged amid discord between South Korea and the United States over the transfer of wartime operational control, or OPCON. Despite President Lee Jae-myung’s pledge to complete the transfer within his term, Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of United States Forces Korea and the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command, said, “We cannot say we’re going to slide away from the conditions, just so that we can get this done in time.” The comment suggests that the South Korean government should not rush the process.
As part of efforts to modernize the alliance and keep China in check, the United States plans to expand the role of U.S. Forces Korea beyond the peninsula. At the same time, Brunson’s comment underscores the point that deterring North Korea and protecting the peninsula remain crucial. However, differing blueprints for OPCON transfer between the two countries could generate unnecessary friction. Maintaining the stability of the alliance between South Korea and the United States has become increasingly important.
Gen. Brunson qualified his comment by saying “I know that, right now, President Lee says he wants to do this during his term of office. We know the start point and we know the end point, so we've got to meet the conditions in that time, but we've also got to be willing to say 'We can't get there from here.'" Saying it is premature to guarantee that the Lee administration would reclaim OPCON without considering conditions such as the South Korean military’s ability to lead combined defense could be seen as criticism. South Korea and the United States plan to complete the second of three verification stages for OPCON by next year.
President Lee did not initially include a timeline for OPCON transfer in his presidential campaign pledge. However, in his five-year policy plan, made public after taking office, he set the timeline as firmly within his term. Last month, President Lee asserted that, “By strengthening national defense and reclaiming OPCON, South Korea has made clear its intention to lead defense of the peninsula, and the United States endorses this and has expressed its strong commitment to providing support.” At a time when the process is gaining momentum, Gen. Brunson has called for adjusting the pace of the transfer.
Gen. Brunson also said that combined military drills between South Korea and the United States are essential in the “sacred charge” of meeting the expectations of the people of the peninsula, and that “sometimes we forget that our ability to engage in rigorous, realistic training is the thing that separates this alliance from any other that exists.” His comments appeared to express indirect dissatisfaction with calls from within parts of the South Korean government, including from Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, to scale back military exercises.
Military training should happen as scheduled, and OPCON transfer must be dutifully carried out according to procedure. On either side, this is not something to be skipped over or rushed. Ideally, Brunson’s blunt remarks will prove unnecessary.
As part of efforts to modernize the alliance and keep China in check, the United States plans to expand the role of U.S. Forces Korea beyond the peninsula. At the same time, Brunson’s comment underscores the point that deterring North Korea and protecting the peninsula remain crucial. However, differing blueprints for OPCON transfer between the two countries could generate unnecessary friction. Maintaining the stability of the alliance between South Korea and the United States has become increasingly important.
Gen. Brunson qualified his comment by saying “I know that, right now, President Lee says he wants to do this during his term of office. We know the start point and we know the end point, so we've got to meet the conditions in that time, but we've also got to be willing to say 'We can't get there from here.'" Saying it is premature to guarantee that the Lee administration would reclaim OPCON without considering conditions such as the South Korean military’s ability to lead combined defense could be seen as criticism. South Korea and the United States plan to complete the second of three verification stages for OPCON by next year.
President Lee did not initially include a timeline for OPCON transfer in his presidential campaign pledge. However, in his five-year policy plan, made public after taking office, he set the timeline as firmly within his term. Last month, President Lee asserted that, “By strengthening national defense and reclaiming OPCON, South Korea has made clear its intention to lead defense of the peninsula, and the United States endorses this and has expressed its strong commitment to providing support.” At a time when the process is gaining momentum, Gen. Brunson has called for adjusting the pace of the transfer.
Gen. Brunson also said that combined military drills between South Korea and the United States are essential in the “sacred charge” of meeting the expectations of the people of the peninsula, and that “sometimes we forget that our ability to engage in rigorous, realistic training is the thing that separates this alliance from any other that exists.” His comments appeared to express indirect dissatisfaction with calls from within parts of the South Korean government, including from Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, to scale back military exercises.
Military training should happen as scheduled, and OPCON transfer must be dutifully carried out according to procedure. On either side, this is not something to be skipped over or rushed. Ideally, Brunson’s blunt remarks will prove unnecessary.
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