Retired USFK commander warns rushed OPCON handover could weaken deterrence

In a webinar hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, retired General Robert Abrams warned that imposing an arbitrary deadline on the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) to South Korea could increase security risks and erode the deterrence posture toward North Korea. He argued that a timeline-driven approach would likely expose operational shortfalls within the Republic of Korea's military, stressing the need for adequate force levels and capabilities on the peninsula.

Abrams challenged a reported 92 percent completion figure for the OPCON transition, stating that during his tenure the progress was far from that level. While he could not comment on the classified current status, he expressed confidence that significant shortfalls still exist. Current USFK commander General Xavier Brunson has also highlighted that political expediency must not compromise military preparedness. Seoul aims to complete the handover before the end of the Lee Jae Myung administration in 2030, possibly as early as next year, after having regained peacetime OPCON in 1994.