▲ 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)

(LEAD) Hegseth-S Korea

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

(ATTN: UPDATES with more remarks throughout; ADDS byline)

By Kim Seung-yeon

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.

Seoul has proposed retaking wartime OPCON from Washington as early as in 2028 as it seeks to complete the transfer before the Lee Jae Myung administration's five-year term ends in 2030.

However, doubts have emerged over whether Washington sees eye to eye with Seoul on such a timeline after U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson suggested the two sides aim to meet the conditions required for the OPCON transfer by no later than the first quarter of 2029.

South Korea handed over operational control of its troops to the U.S.-led U.N. Command during the 1950-53 Korean War. It was then transferred to the allies' Combined Forces Command when the command was launched in 1978.

Hegseth reiterated his positive view on Seoul's strong will to retake the wartime OPCON, calling it a "breath of fresh air" that an ally wants to regain the control "more quickly."

"It is an instinct we want to continue to incentivize," he said. "I think it provides even more optionality for both the Koreans and the United States there on the (Korean) peninsula going forward, which is a very good thing."

Regarding South Korea's push for a nuclear-powered submarine program, Hegseth reaffirmed U.S. support for allies wanting to expand their own undersea warfare capacity, which he said would enhance deterrence and regional stability.

"Allies and partners seeking similar capabilities in their own defense and in regional stability makes a lot of sense to us," he said.

As the U.S.' undersea warfare capabilities are "unmatched," its allies having a similar capability will create "strategic dilemmas" for potential adversaries, the secretary highlighted.

"There are challenges, and how we get past them will require collaboration, but we are very much committed to that," he added, without elaborating further.

The U.S. gave backing for South Korea to build conventionally armed nuclear-powered attack submarines following their leaders' summit in October.

Earlier this week, South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back announced a road map for the country's nuclear-propelled submarine program, seeking to domestically develop such assets and launch the first vessel in the mid-2030s.

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