Overview
- The two countries are negotiating to delay their annual Security Consultative Meeting, with discussions focused on holding the talks after the U.S. midterm elections to buy time for more technical reviews.
- U.S. Forces Korea commander Gen. Xavier Brunson said changed conditions and new standards require the allies to uphold stricter requirements before any transfer of wartime operational control.
- Seoul wants to finish Full Operational Capability verification and set a target year for OPCON transfer during the SCM, but U.S. officials have reassessed previously met requirements and signaled caution about rushing the handover.
- U.S. concerns center on surveillance and reconnaissance, secure command-and-control links, data interoperability and compatibility with AI-enabled targeting tools, and those gaps are shaping the schedule.
- The transfer follows a three-stage, conditions-based plan where Initial Operational Capability was validated, allies are now assessing Full Operational Capability, and Full Mission Capability remains the final step that will determine any handover.