Pentagon Says Upcoming S. Korea-US Exercise Partly Aimed At Preparing OPCON Transfer

Reporter Hyeryeon Chung ㅣ 2020-08-07 18:19

Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman (L) and Marine Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, commander of U.S. Central Command

The Pentagon says an upcoming joint military exercise with South Korea is aimed at preparing the country to retake operational control of allied forces in the event of war.

Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said at a press briefing Thursday that the United States wants to take the necessary steps to ensure the South Korean military has the capability to meet the conditions of the OPCON transfer.

Hoffman noted some of the changes to their exercise and maneuver efforts amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but did not say whether the combined exercise later this month will be reduced in scale.

South Korea's defense ministry has said the two countries are pushing to carry out a Full Operational Capability test during the drill, meant to verify whether Seoul is on course to meet its goal of OPCON transfer by May 2022.

<Photo: Yonhap News>