Seoul (GNP): South Korea and the United States have agreed to move their annual Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) to early 2027. The flagship defence gathering had been expected in October before slipping to November and then December.
Defence Minister Kang Shin-chul and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the delay when they met in Cebu, the Philippines, on the sidelines of a regional defence ministers’ gathering. The talks were planned for 15 minutes but lasted about 40. The two also agreed to hold a separate bilateral meeting in Washington in December, ahead of the rescheduled SCM.
The delay matters because the SCM is where the allies discuss the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON). This will be the first time in 28 years, since 1998, that the meeting takes place after the turn of the year. The US Department of Defense had earlier cited scheduling conflicts among senior officials. Analysts also see pending issues on the American side, including its war against Iran and the midterm elections, as factors.
Seoul’s defence ministry rejects the idea that the postponement signals a setback. Spokesperson Chung Binna said on Thursday that Seoul will pursue a “top-down” approach. Under this plan, the two defence chiefs will agree on a policy direction in December, and a final decision will follow at the SCM.
That approach is unusual because the SCM normally works from the bottom up. It brings the defence chiefs together to finalise agreements reached earlier by senior military officers. The ministry described the planned December meeting as a rare step.
Still, questions remain over the pace of the transfer. Seoul wants to finish before 2030, when President Lee Jae Myung’s five-year term ends, while Washington is wary of a rushed handover driven by political considerations.
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The wording of the latest readout reflects that gap. Seoul said both sides agreed to work for a “timely” OPCON transfer, where earlier statements used the word “expedite”. Chung said “timely” means choosing the most appropriate moment based on the conditions and readiness of both countries.
Hegseth reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to the transfer. His side also urged that the next SCM be a “definitive and decisive” meeting, which a ministry official took as a sign that the allies agree on its importance.
Practical work continues in the meantime. Kang told lawmakers on Monday that Seoul is working with Washington to complete full operational capability (FOC) verification of the future Combined Forces Command. The two sides also aim to set a target year for the transfer by the end of 2026. FOC verification is the second stage of a three-stage, conditions-based process, so it remains the main milestone to watch before the rescheduled meeting.
Chung said, “It does not mean a delay in the transfer.”
Managing Editor at Global News Pakistan (GNP), with a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Riphah International University, graduated with a Gold Medal. Reach out at sabahtareengnp@gmail.com
