USFK chief sets 2029 target for OPCON conditions

April 23 (Asia Today) -- The top U.S. commander in South Korea said the conditions required for transferring wartime operational control could be met by early 2029, highlighting a potential timing gap with Seoul's earlier target.

Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of United States Forces Korea, told lawmakers he submitted a roadmap to the Defense Department outlining plans to meet the conditions for the transfer by the first quarter of 2029.

Testifying before the House Armed Services Committee, Brunson stressed that the transition is "conditions-based, not time-based," reiterating a principle he also emphasized during a Senate hearing a day earlier.

The timeline refers to when required conditions could be fulfilled, not a fixed date for transferring operational control, known as OPCON.

South Korea has sought to complete the transition within the current presidential term, with officials expected to propose a 2028 target during upcoming bilateral defense talks, creating a potential discrepancy between the allies.

Lawmakers underscored that meeting the conditions must come first.

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers said OPCON should only be transferred after all requirements are satisfied, adding there is no need to rush the process.

Brunson also warned against allowing "political expediency" to override military readiness, saying the allies would continue to pursue a conditions-based transition and ensure all criteria are met.

Asked whether there could be a point when withdrawing U.S. forces from South Korea would be appropriate, Brunson rejected the idea.

"I would not present that as my best military advice to any leadership," he said.

In written testimony, a senior Pentagon official said South Korea has pledged to increase defense spending to 3.5% of its gross domestic product and purchase $25 billion in U.S. military equipment by 2030.

Brunson highlighted South Korea's strategic importance, noting its ability to project power across both the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan, while also reflecting Seoul's preferred terminology of West Sea and East Sea during the hearing.

He said the U.S. military is exploring ways to maintain a "critical but more limited" role on North Korea-related missions after the transfer while expanding its broader regional posture.

The Korean Peninsula's location within the so-called first island chain provides strategic advantages for projecting power across the Indo-Pacific region, he added, suggesting U.S. Forces Korea's role could expand beyond the peninsula after the transition.

Brunson described South Korea as a top-tier regional partner, citing its military capabilities and planned defense spending increases.

-- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260423010007240

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