Seoul: South Korea's military has announced plans to enhance its command and control system for joint operations with the United States, aiming to better prepare for a potential transition of wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington to Seoul, according to the state arms procurement agency.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) is spearheading a 117.8 billion-won (US$84.9 million) project to upgrade and fully operationalize the Allied Korean Joint Command and Control System (AKJCCS) by 2029. This initiative marks a significant development, coming a decade after the system's initial deployment.

The upgrade will focus on fortifying the system's security and enhancing its information-sharing and communications capabilities. Key improvements will include features like auto translation and teleconferencing, which are expected to facilitate a more stable connection between the homegrown AKJCCS and the U.S. Combined Enterprise Regional Information Exchange System - Korea (CENTRIXS-K) network.

Seoul and Washington initially agreed on the OPCON transfer in 2015, but the process was postponed following a 2014 agreement to make the handover conditions-based rather than timeline-based, in light of evolving nuclear and missile threats from North Korea.

Last month, Seoul's Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back expressed his belief that President Lee Jae Myung's government aims to retake OPCON during its five-year term. However, the presidential office clarified that these remarks were his personal opinion.