Washington: Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back is set to visit the United States next week for discussions with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, as announced by the defense ministry on Saturday. The talks aim to address several pressing issues, including the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON). Ahn's five-day trip to Washington will commence this Sunday, with talks scheduled for Monday (U.S. time). This marks Ahn's first visit to the U.S. as defense minister.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the visit is crucial as South Korea seeks to regain wartime command of its troops from the U.S. and advance its plans to develop nuclear-powered submarines with American support. President Lee Jae Myung's administration targets reclaiming wartime OPCON before its term ends in 2030, ideally by 2028. However, U.S. Forces Korea commander Gen. Xavier Brunson's recent statement to Congress suggested a timeline extending to the first quarter of 2029, potentially beyond President Donald Trump's term, which ends on January 20, 2029. Ahn is expected to address these differences with Hegseth to expedite the transition.
South Korea initially transferred operational control of its forces to the U.S.-led United Nations Command during the Korean War from 1950-53, regaining peacetime OPCON in 1994, while wartime control remains under U.S. command. The OPCON transfer will be a central topic during the high-level defense dialogue in Washington following the ministerial talks.
In addition to the OPCON issue, the dialogue will likely cover South Korea's initiative to build nuclear-powered submarines, a project that gained momentum after President Trump's approval during his summit with President Lee last year. The discussions may also explore South Korea's potential role in supporting U.S. efforts to ensure free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, amidst the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict. The U.S. has proposed an international coalition, the "Maritime Freedom Construct," to maintain open shipping routes.
Intelligence-sharing restrictions may also be discussed, following a recent incident where Washington expressed concerns over a South Korean minister's disclosure of intelligence regarding North Korea's uranium enrichment facility in the Kusong region. This disclosure was allegedly based on U.S.-shared intelligence.
While in Washington, Ahn plans to meet with acting U.S. Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao and key members of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, as confirmed by the ministry.