U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson speaks during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing at the Capitol in Washington, Apr. 10, 2025, in this photo captured from the committee's website. Yonhap

WASHINGTON — The top U.S. general in South Korea said Wednesday that a roadmap has been delivered to the Pentagon for meeting conditions required for the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) to Seoul "not later than the second quarter of fiscal year 2029."

U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson made the remarks during a House Armed Services Committee hearing, as Seoul and Washington are working on the "conditions-based" OPCON transition. The conditions include South Korea's capabilities to lead combined Korea-U.S. forces, its strike and air defense capabilities, and a regional security environment conducive to such a handover.

"I would say that right now, we've delivered to OSW a roadmap which will get us there not later than second quarter of FY 29 and we'll continue to pursue that," he said, OSW is short for the office of secretary of war.

As fiscal year 2029 runs from Oct. 1, 2028 through Sept. 30, 2029 in the U.S., Brunson indicated that the allies seek to finish satisfying the OPCON transition conditions between January and March 2029.

Still, the general stressed the importance of meeting all conditions for the transition.

"We will continue to press for the conditions-based OPCON transfer and ensure that all the conditions are met," he said.

During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing the previous day, Brunson said that "political expediency does not outpace the conditions" for the transfer, in a renewed emphasis on the need for the allies to satisfy all military requirements for the handover.

Brunson said that Seoul and Washington plan to discuss the transfer conditions when they hold their key high-level meetings, such as the upcoming Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue, and the ministerial Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) set to take place in Washington in early fall.

He also said that the allies are in a "good" position for the OPCON transfer, citing South Korea's defense investments and plans to increase its military spending.

Source: Korea Times News