Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of the ROK-US Combined Forces Command, said on April 22 that a roadmap has been submitted to the Pentagon to meet conditions for wartime operational control (OPCON) transfer by Q2 FY2029 (Q1 2029 in Korea).
The timeline aligns with President Lee Jae-myung's goal of restoring OPCON during his term. Brunson noted South Korea's 8.5% defense budget increase over three years creates favorable conditions.
This is the first specific deadline from the Trump administration. The roadmap suggests a provisional political agreement between the two allies on the transfer schedule.
Last year, the allies agreed on "alliance modernization," focusing on South Korea leading defense against the North, limited US support, and expanded strategic flexibility for USFK.
The timing is delicate, as the transition requires meeting key conditions including South Korea's enhanced capabilities to lead the combined defense. Details remain under negotiation.
According to Donga, the transfer would mark a major shift in the alliance, but the tight timeline raises questions about readiness.