Washington:The U.S. Department of Defense regards South Korea's efforts to regain wartime operational control (OPCON) as a significant opportunity to enhance its military capabilities. A senior Pentagon official highlighted this perspective as South Korea aims to complete the conditions-based OPCON transition before 2030 under President Lee Jae Myung's administration.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby shared these insights in a statement to the Senate Armed Services Committee. Colby emphasized that as South Korea, officially known as the Republic of Korea (ROK), accelerates its efforts to assume wartime operational control, the U.S. Department of Defense is leveraging this transition to drive generational improvements in South Korean military capabilities.

Colby also stated that the modernization of the Seoul-Washington alliance continues, aiming to strengthen U.S. conventional military posture in South Korea against regional threats. This aligns with Washington's broader strategy to enhance Indo-Pacific security amidst China's growing assertiveness.

Colby further commented on "burden sharing" in the Indo-Pacific region, noting significant progress. He pointed out that South Korea is the first ally outside the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to adopt the "new global standard for defense spending," which allocates 3.5 percent of the gross domestic product to core military capabilities. Additionally, South Korea has agreed to assume primary responsibility for its conventional defense against North Korea.

These remarks were part of Colby's update on the implementation of the Pentagon's national defense strategy released earlier this year.