On Oct. 28, the South Korean defense ministry announced that its annual Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) will be postponed to early 2027 after bilateral talks between Defense Minister Kang Shin‑chul and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the sidelines of a regional defense meeting in the Philippines.
The two sides also agreed to hold another round of defense‑ministerial talks in Washington in December, a move aimed at confirming South Korea’s readiness for wartime operational control (OPCON).
"Secretary Hegseth reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the wartime operational control (OPCON) transition, and the minister and the secretary agreed to work closely to ensure a smooth and timely OPCON transfer," the defence ministry released.
"In this context, sharing the view on the importance of successfully hosting the historic 58th South Korea‑U.S. Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), they agreed to hold defense‑ministerial talks in Washington in December and convene the SCM in early 2027," ministry statement.
The postponement follows friction over the OPCON transition. Washington has expressed reservations about rushing the process due to political considerations and insisted that South Korea must fully meet the "full operational capability" (FOC) benchmarks set in a three‑phase transition plan.
South Korean officials claim those benchmarks have been met, while U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson has recently stated that the requirements have not yet been fulfilled. The two sides’ differing assessments underscore the cautious pace at which the alliance is proceeding with the handover.
