Seoul: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday emphasized the need for a balanced approach in transferring wartime operational control (OPCON) to South Korea, ensuring that the longstanding roles of the U.S. military are respected. Hegseth's remarks were made during a defense forum in Singapore, highlighting potential differences between Seoul and Washington on the timing and method of this transition. According to Yonhap News Agency, Hegseth addressed the Asia Security Summit, also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, underscoring the necessity of honoring U.S. military plans and responsibilities in the phased transfer of OPCON to South Korea. While Seoul aims to finalize the transfer by 2028, aligning it with the end of President Lee Jae Myung's term in 2030, U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson indicated a target of the first quarter of 2029 for meeting the required conditions. Operational control of South Korean troops was originally handed to the U.S.-led U.N. Command during the 1950-53 Korean War and later to the Combined Forces Command in 1978. Gen. Brunson, also present at the Singapore forum, stressed the significance of adequate military capabilities and readiness for the OPCON transition, noting the strategic importance of maintaining the right capabilities in the Korean Peninsula. Hegseth expressed a positive outlook on Seoul's determination to regain wartime OPCON, describing it as a "breath of fresh air" and an instinct worth incentivizing. He believed this would create more strategic options for both South Korea and the United States on the peninsula. Regarding South Korea's ambitions for a nuclear-powered submarine program, Hegseth reaffirmed U.S. support for allies expanding their undersea warfare capabilities, which he suggested would enhance regional deterrence and stability. Following an October summit, the U.S. endorsed South Korea's initiative to develop conventionally armed nuclear-powered attack submarines. South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back recently unveiled a roadmap for developing nuclear-propelled submarines domestically, with plans to launch the first vessel by the mid-2030s. Hegseth praised South Korea's leadership for its proactive stance on security, particularly President Lee's decision to increase defense spending to 3.5 percent of GDP, reflecting a pragmatic understanding of global threats. During a subsequent Q and A session, Gen. Brunson clarified his earlier comments describing the Korean Peninsula as a "dagger" toward China, explaining it as a strategic perspective rather than a belligerent stance. The Chinese Embassy in Seoul had criticized these remarks, but Defense Minister Ahn minimized their significance, citing regular communication with Secretary Hegseth on shared issues. Ahn also regarded Hegseth's endorsement of South Korea's submarine project as "highly meaningful," attributing it to mutual trust and a shared evaluation of the alliance's capabilities. He expressed confidence that their systematic and stable preparations would gain internat ional recognition.