▲ U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore on May 30, 2026, in this Reuters photo. (Yonhap)

Hegseth-S Korea

Hegseth calls for 'balanced' OPCON transfer where U.S. military roles are 'honored'

SINGAPORE, May 30 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday called for finding a "balance" in the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) to South Korea in a way that respects the roles the U.S. military has played for decades.

Hegseth made the remarks at a defense forum in Singapore amid growing concerns over what appears to be differing views between Seoul and Washington over when and how the transition should proceed.

"I think we have to find the balance of where our military plans and the responsibilities that U.S. uniformed members have had for decades now (are) honored, as we phase over to wartime OPCON transfer for the Republic of Korea, which we welcome the fact that they want that," he said during a session of the Asia Security Summit, also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue.

(END)

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]