Defense minister stresses no major issue in speeding up wartime OPCON transfer with US

“INCHEON — Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said Sunday that South Korea and the United States face "no major issues" in accelerating the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON), stressing that the allies have made "significant progress" in meeting the conditions agreed upon by the two sides for the transition. Ahn made the remarks before departing for Washington for talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, scheduled for Monday (U.S time), as Seoul is seeking to retake wartime command of its troops from the U.S. before the Lee Jae Myung government's five-year term ends in 2030. "South Korean and U.S. officials made significant progress in 2015 regarding the wartime OPCON transfer under a conditions-based agreement," Ahn told reporters at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul. "Based on that progress, we've been preparing for the transition in a systematic, stable and consistent manner. And because those preparations have continued steadily, I do not believe there is any major issue with accelerating the OPCON transition," Ahn said. His remarks came amid signs of diffe

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