Seoul: South Korea and the United States have recently reviewed progress on the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington to Seoul during bilateral defense discussions, a Seoul official confirmed.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the review took place during the Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD) in Seoul. This marked the first such meeting under the Lee Jae Myung administration, which has committed to reclaiming OPCON during its five-year term. The previous meeting was held at the Pentagon in early May.

Both countries acknowledged significant advancements in meeting the three key conditions necessary for the transfer. These conditions require South Korea to develop capabilities to lead combined forces, enhance strike and air defense capabilities, and ensure a favorable regional security environment for the handover.

Historically, South Korea ceded control of its forces to the U.S.-led U.N. Command during the Korean War and later to the Combined Forces Command in 1978. While peacetime OPCON was returned to South Korea in 1994, wartime control has remained with the U.S. The transfer has been a recurring subject in bilateral relations, influenced by North Korea's military threats.

During the meeting, discussions were also held on broader alliance issues, with both nations evaluating defense cooperation aimed at modernizing the South Korea-U.S. alliance. They focused on adapting to a changing regional security landscape and addressing North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile capabilities.

South Korea emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation in the arms industry, specifically in naval shipbuilding and maintenance sectors, which the U.S. agreed upon. The defense dialogue coincided with the Pentagon's development of a new National Defense Strategy and a global force posture review, which might impact U.S. defense policy towards South Korea and its management of 28,500 American troops stationed on the Korean Peninsula.

KIDD, established in 2011, serves as a comprehensive senior-level defense platform for the allies to address mutual defense concerns.