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| ▲ The nominee for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force Lt. Gen. Jin Yong-sung, responds to questions from the press on his way to his office at the defense ministry compound in Seoul ahead of a parliamentary confirmation hearing on Sept. 4, 2025. (Yonhap) |
JCS chief nominee-OPCON transfer
JCS chairman nominee says OPCON transfer from U.S. should take place 'when ready'
SEOUL, Sept. 4 (Yonhap) -- The nominee for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Thursday it will be desirable for the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) to Seoul from Washington to take place when conditions are "ready" for the handover.
Air Force Gen. Jin Yong-sung made the remark as a presidential committee had proposed to the Lee Jae Myung administration last month that the OPCON transfer take place within Lee's five-year term.
"OPCON transfer is necessary ... but I think it will be desirable for the transfer to take place when Seoul and Washington thoroughly prepare for that while taking into account the timing and process," Jin told reporters as he went to an office to prepare for a parliamentary confirmation hearing.
Jin, who was nominated as the top military officer earlier this week, is subject to a confirmation hearing at the National Assembly before Lee formally appoints him.
Seoul and Washington have been working on the "conditions-based" OPCON transfer. 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.
Asked about the government's plan to restore the now-suspended 2018 inter-Korean military pact, Jin stressed it is necessary to reduce tensions between the two Koreas and build trust.
Jin, who has led the Strategic Command as its inaugural chief, was promoted to a four-star general in the high-level military reshuffle to replace JCS Chairman Adm. Kim Myung-soo.
It marked the first time in five years that an Air Force officer has been named to the top military post since Gen. Won In-choul was tapped as JCS chairman in 2020.
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