South Korea-US Defense Talks Set to Move Beyond US Midterms
Seoul and Washington are coordinating a later date for their annual Security Consultative Meeting, with the timing of wartime operational control transfer expected to remain a central issue.
South Korea and the United States are preparing to hold their annual high-level defense talks after the US midterm elections, delaying a meeting that is usually convened in early November, according to informed sources cited Wednesday.
The allies have reached an understanding that the Security Consultative Meeting should be moved largely because of the US elections scheduled for November 3. Washington is due to host this year's session, but no final date has been announced. South Korea's Defense Ministry said it was coordinating with the US Department of Defense to find a date available to both sides.
The Security Consultative Meeting is the principal annual forum for the allies' defense chiefs. It covers strategy, combined military readiness and measures intended to deter North Korea. A newspaper report said the meeting could be moved to December, although the ministry said specific details had not been finalized.
The calendar change comes as Seoul seeks faster progress on the transfer of wartime operational control, known as OPCON, from the United States to South Korea. The Lee Jae Myung administration wants the transfer completed before its five-year term ends in 2030 and has considered a significantly earlier timetable. Washington has cautioned against accelerating the process for political reasons rather than on the basis of verified military capabilities.
The two governments are following a three-stage, conditions-based transition plan. They have already validated South Korea's initial operational capability and are now assessing full operational capability, the second stage. Seoul wants that certification completed and a target year for the transfer announced at the next consultative meeting. The remaining full mission capability assessment would follow.
South Korea's Defense Ministry said the allies had completed all joint capability evaluations scheduled for this year and were working closely to prepare for the full operational capability certification. Reports that Washington believes Seoul is not yet ready have increased uncertainty over whether the timetable can be advanced as quickly as the Korean government hopes.
Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul acknowledged that the allies retain different perspectives on the transfer but emphasized the importance of mutual trust and said there were no major disagreements. He also said Seoul was working to arrange a meeting with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during the ADMM-Plus defense ministers' gathering in the Philippines later this month.
The postponed annual dialogue therefore remains more than a scheduling matter. Its eventual timing and conclusions will indicate whether Seoul and Washington can align their political calendars with the military benchmarks governing one of the alliance's most consequential command changes.