Vice Defense Minister Seeks U.S. Congressional Support for OPCON Transition and Nuclear-Powered Submarines in Washington

The Ministry of National Defense announced that Vice Minister Lee Doo-hee met with members of the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C., on the 24th (local time) to request support for key security issues, including the transition of Wartime Operational Control (OPCON) and the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines.
During his meetings with Representatives Ryan Zinke and Pat Harrigan, Vice Minister Lee expressed gratitude for the U.S. Congress's role as a pillar of the ROK-U.S. alliance and urged bipartisan interest and cooperation for the further development of the alliance.
In particular, Vice Minister Lee requested continued interest and support from the U.S. Congress regarding the easing of legal restrictions to expand cooperation in shipbuilding and MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul), as well as the procurement of low-enriched uranium for nuclear-powered submarines.
Furthermore, he explained the progress and significance of South Korea's pursuit of the OPCON transition and requested support from the U.S. Congress for this process.
Vice Minister Lee also met with Heidi Shyu, the U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, to discuss ways to strengthen defense and defense industry cooperation.
The two sides agreed to establish a director-general-level defense science and technology consultative body to discuss the development of cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and drones, and decided to form a working-level group to build a common ROK-U.S. drone standard and certification system.
Additionally, they agreed to strengthen partnerships in advanced defense science and technology, including sharing information on the test and evaluation of weapon systems incorporating high-tech, and to accelerate cooperation across the security and industrial sectors, including supply chain stabilization.
(Photo: Provided by the Ministry of National Defense, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.