Seoul, May 7: South Korea and the United States will hold high-level defense talks next week in Washington. The South Korean Ministry of Defense announced on Thursday that key issues will include the transfer of wartime operational control (Opcon) from the U.S. to South Korea and the regulation of civilian access to the demilitarized zone near the North Korean border.
The ministry stated that the Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD), which occurs every two years, will take place from Tuesday to Wednesday (U.S. time).
According to Yonhap News Agency, the talks will be led by South Korea’s Deputy Minister of Defense Kim Hong-chol and U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs John Noh.
The ministry emphasized, “Both sides will discuss various security issues, including the transfer of wartime Opcon and joint defense arrangements, to strengthen the alliance for mutual benefit in the future.”
These discussions come at a time when Seoul and Washington are working on transferring wartime Opcon to South Korea. The government of President Yoon Suk-yeol aims to reclaim this command by 2030 during its five-year term.
Last month, General Javier Brunson, commander of U.S. forces in Korea, informed Congress that both countries are striving to meet the necessary conditions for this transfer by the first quarter of 2029.
South Korea transferred its operational command to the U.S.-led United Nations Command (UNC) during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. It was later transferred to the U.S.-South Korea Combined Forces Command in 1978.
South Korea regained peacetime command in 1994, but wartime operational control remains with the U.S.
Conditions for this transfer include South Korea’s ability to lead joint military operations with the U.S., strengthen its missile and air defense capabilities, and create a favorable regional security environment.
Additionally, the issue of controlling civilian movement in the southern part of the DMZ will also be discussed. This area is a heavily fortified zone approximately 250 kilometers long and three kilometers wide.
The Yoon government seeks to control the section where civilian activities can be permitted. Currently, this area is managed by the United Nations Command, which operates under the armistice agreement that ended the Korean War.
Seoul has proposed joint management of this area, with several bills pending in parliament aimed at granting the government control over non-military access. However, the United Nations Command has opposed these measures, stating they violate the armistice agreement.
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