Korea Chair Monitor | Vol 2 Issue 18

October 16 - October 29, 2014

The Korea Chair team takes a biweekly look back at events of interest in Washington, Seoul, and the region from October 16 - October 29, 2014.

U.S.-ROK RELATIONS | 46th U.S.-ROK Security Consultative Meeting
On October 23, delegations led by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Minister of National Defense Han Min-koo met for the 46th U.S.-ROK Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) in Washington, D.C., and agreed on a delayed transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) of U.S.-led Combined Forces Command (CFC) to a new ROK-led command. OPCON transfer, scheduled to occur December 2015, has been delayed to an unspecified date until the ROK forces are capable of effectively responding to North Korean provocations. Additionally, the two countries agreed to retain the CFC and the 8th U.S. Army headquarters in Seoul’s Yongsan location until the future OPCON transfer.