Addressing a seminar in Washington, D.C., General Xavier Brunson, Commander of U.S. Forces Korea, stated that the security environment has clearly changed due to North Korea's frequent missile provocations.

He went on to emphasize that the wartime operational control (OPCON) transfer should be based on core operational capabilities rather than a fixed timeline, noting that changes in plans have led to new criteria.

This is interpreted as making it clear that, amid growing security threats, the conditions for the wartime OPCON transfer have not yet been met from the perspective of the U.S. side.