S. Korea’s Lee reaffirms OPCON transfer within his term

South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung announced that the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) from the United States back to Seoul must be completed without disruption before his term ends. South Korea regained peacetime operational control in 1994, but wartime OPCON remains under U.S. command via the Combined Forces Command.

Lee renewed this push during the annual cabinet meeting on Tuesday. The push follows statements from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the reduction of joint military drills.