"For 75 years, the US has wielded wartime operational control (OPCON) of South Korean forces. The set-up has its origins in the Korean War which erupted in 1950 and largely ended with the truce of 1953. In simple terms, Seoul can command its troops only as long as there is no open conflict, and despite South Korean leadership taking on more and more responsibility in the intervening decades, a major breakout of hostilities would still see Washington take command."
"The current plans by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung foresee the transfer happening before his term ends in 2030 and yet, there is a growing number of voices asking: Is Seoul really ready to take on this responsibility? Is OPCON being rushed? Analysts told DW that the eventual transfer of OPCON is inevitable. At the same time, there are some who warn that the move is being rushed and North Korea might perceive its southern rival as weakened by the handover process."
For 75 years the United States has held wartime operational control (OPCON) of South Korean forces, a structure dating to the 1950 Korean War and the 1953 armistice. Seoul can command its troops only in peacetime; a major outbreak of hostilities would place US commanders in charge. A planned handover in 2015 was postponed until specific readiness conditions were satisfied. The current US administration supports transfer to encourage allied self-reliance. South Korean leaders view full command as a sovereignty issue and President Lee Jae Myung aims to complete the transfer by 2030. Some analysts call the transfer inevitable, while others warn it may be rushed and could signal weakness to North Korea.
Read at www.dw.com
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