The Ministry of National Defense said on the 12th that the defense chiefs of Korea and the United States met on the 11th (local time) and discussed security issues, including the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON). It was Ahn Gyu-baek's first visit to the United States since taking office in July last year, and the meeting with Pete Hegseth came about six months after the 57th Korea-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) held in Korea in November last year.
After their talks, Minister Ahn and Minister Hegseth said in a joint press statement that they "discussed the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and reaffirmed that the Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD) meeting to be held this week plays an important role in alliance cooperation and advancing the national interest," adding that they "discussed key alliance issues such as the transfer of wartime operational control and alliance modernization, and agreed to strengthen cooperation going forward."
In the talks, the Minister explained Korea's efforts to increase the defense budget, secure core military capabilities, and lead the defense of the Korean Peninsula. The Ministry of National Defense said Minister Hegseth emphasized the importance of a realistic and practical approach to strengthening the Korea-U.S. combined defense posture. Taken together, the joint press statement suggests that both sides intend to accelerate "alliance modernization" pursued by the Korean government, which is pushing the OPCON transfer, and the U.S. government, which is emphasizing strengthening the role of U.S. Forces Korea in countering China.
Attention is on whether the controversy that erupted as a perception gap emerged between the two countries over the OPCON transfer will be resolved. The Korean government is proceeding on a timeline to complete the second-phase verification this year and to finalize the transfer by 2028. Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, said at the U.S. House Armed Services Committee that he would submit a roadmap for the OPCON transfer in the second quarter of fiscal year 2029 (first quarter in Korea).
Nuclear-powered submarines were also discussed at the meeting. Lee Kyung-ho, deputy spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense, said at a regular briefing on the morning of the same day that "they discussed the military necessity of nuclear-powered submarines," adding that "as the introduction of nuclear-powered submarines is something agreed between the two countries' leaders, (Minister Ahn) emphasized the importance of producing visible results quickly."
Korea's options to participate in the resumption of passage through the Strait of Hormuz were also discussed at the meeting. The deputy spokesperson said, "(The two ministers) closely exchanged views on the safety of sea lines of communication and guaranteeing freedom of navigation," adding that "Korea will review and pursue step-by-step options." The United States has repeatedly emphasized Korea's participation in the Strait of Hormuz issue. Ahead of the talks, Minister Hegseth said, "We expect our partners to stand shoulder to shoulder with us."
Attending the ministers' meeting from the U.S. side were Elbridge Colby, under secretary for policy, John Noe, deputy minister for Indo-Pacific security affairs, Ricky Boria, chief of staff to the Secretary, and Christopher Mahoney, vice chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). From the Korean side, Ambassador to the United States Kang Kyung-hwa; Yoon Hyung-jin, defense attaché to the United States (brigadier general); Kim Hong-chul, policy director at the Ministry of National Defense; Spokesperson Jeong Bit-na; and Lee Kwang-seok, director-general for international policy, took part.