Ex-US diplomat says OPCON transfer may not move rapidly, cites 'no consensus' in Washington

The Korea Times - Nov 10, 2026

A former U.S. diplomat said Tuesday that the envisioned transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington to Seoul may not move forward swiftly, citing "no consensus" on the key alliance issue in the United States. Speaking virtually at a forum, Joseph Yun, former acting U.S. ambassador to South Korea and special representative for North Korea, also said that there is no consensus in Washington over Seoul's push to secure rights to enrich uranium for peaceful civilian purposes and acquire nuclear submarines. Yun offered his forecasts over what will happen during the remaining two years of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, particularly in the wake of this month's U.S. midterm elections, in which Democrats won control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. "I cannot imagine (the OPCON transfer efforts) moving very rapidly," Yun said during the forum hosted by the Korea-U.S. Parliamentarians' Union. "Same thing with nuclear issues. There is no consensus in Washington that Korea ought to have enrichment or nuclear submarines." South Korea and the U.S.

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