U.S. Forces Korea commander says wartime command transfer conditions have changed

U.S. Forces Korea commander Xavier Brunson said on October 14 that conditions for transferring wartime operational control had changed and that revised plans had created new standards to meet. Speaking at a think-tank seminar in Washington, he said he supported the transfer as a way to modernise the alliance, but opposed violating conditions set in earlier years. [ 8 , 9 , 10 ]

Brunson cited another North Korean missile launch that week and said no one could claim that conditions had remained unchanged. He said timing itself was a condition, but that the process concerned core capabilities and the ability to perform all missions. Yonhap and Seoul Shinmun said it was unclear whether the plan changes involved the U.S. military alone or both countries, and what had changed. [ 8 , 10 ]

The reports described disagreement between Seoul and Washington over whether the transfer requirements had been satisfied. They said South Korea regarded the conditions as sufficiently met for an immediate transfer, while the U.S. still considered them unmet. Brunson said he wanted the previously established conditions to be fulfilled. [ 8 , 9 , 10 ]

At a separate Washington discussion on October 13, Brunson had said he fully supported a conditions-based transfer and that deciding its timing was outside his authority. He said he would follow an immediate-transfer instruction from the U.S. president or defence secretary, while explaining the risks of proceeding before all conditions and essential capabilities were in place. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]

Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that the 2015 conditions-based transfer plan set three requirements: military capabilities to lead combined defence, comprehensive capabilities to respond to North Korean nuclear and missile threats, and a security environment on the peninsula and in the region suitable for a stable transfer. [ 2 ]