South Korea, U.S. to maintain joint command structure post-OPCON transfer

South Korea and the United States will continue to operate under their existing Combined Forces Command (CFC) structure, even after Seoul assumes wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington. The South Korean Ministry of Defense has officially denied recent media reports suggesting the joint command might be altered or dissolved following the OPCON transfer.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the ministry stated that both countries will maintain the integrated command system to ensure a robust combined defense on the Korean Peninsula. This reaffirms a 2018 agreement between Seoul and Washington to establish a future Combined Forces Command with a similar operational mechanism post-OPCON transfer.

Earlier reports had indicated concerns from the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) regarding the speed of the OPCON handover, citing potential military conditions that needed to be fully met. These reports speculated that the U.S. military might face difficulties operating under a South Korean commander if the joint command structure were to change after the transfer.

However, the South Korean Ministry of Defense asserted that the U.S. has not proposed any changes to the current agreement. The ministry cautioned that such speculative reports could weaken the ROK-U.S. alliance. USFK reiterated its commitment to the OPCON transfer process based on mutually agreed-upon conditions, emphasizing the priority of enhancing combined defense capabilities and security for both nations.