Seoul: The government has confirmed the transfer of wartime operational command (OPCON) to Seoul from Washington as a policy task for President Lee Jae Myung’s five-year term. This decision was part of a set of 123 major policies that were confirmed during a Cabinet meeting presided over by President Lee, following a proposal by a presidential committee about a month ago.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the government aims to achieve the transfer of wartime OPCON within Lee’s term, based on a steadfast South Korea-U.S. alliance. This move is intended to ensure that the South Korean military is capable of leading combined defense efforts during both peacetime and wartime. To facilitate this transition, the government plans to develop a roadmap for a “conditions-based” OPCON transfer and enhance the military’s core capabilities.

South Korea originally handed over operational control of its troops to the U.S.-led U.N. Command during the Korean War. The control was then shared with the Combined Forces Command in 1978. Although South Korea regained peacetime OPCON in 1994, wartime OPCON remains under U.S. control. Previous efforts to complete the OPCON transfer faced delays due to evolving security concerns, particularly North Korea’s military threats. Initially scheduled for 2015, the transfer was postponed to a conditions-based handover due to Pyongyang’s advancing nuclear capabilities.

The conditions-based transfer requires Seoul to demonstrate its ability to lead combined forces, enhance its strike and air defense capabilities, and ensure a conducive regional security environment. The allies have conducted the initial operational capability test but have not completed the subsequent stages, including the full mission capability test. Given North Korea’s evolving threats and shifting regional dynamics, meeting these conditions by 2030 remains uncertain.

Additionally, the defense policy tasks confirmed on Tuesday include transferring the functions of the Defense Counterintelligence Command and eventually dismantling the organization linked to former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law attempt. The government also plans to advance its three-axis deterrence system against North Korean threats and establish a space strategy command.