South Korea's President Says Country Fully Capable of Taking Back Wartime Command From US Forces
SEOUL — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on October 19 that the country is fully capable of taking back wartime operational control of the combined forces with the United States and that talks with Washington for the change are progressing. He said South Korea has built a powerful military able to counter North Korea, and reiterated his aim to complete the transfer before his five-year term ends in 2030. The arrangement dates to the 1950-53 Korean War, and the two countries agreed in 2007 to eventually transfer command. About 28,500 US troops are stationed in South Korea. US Forces Korea commander General Xavier Brunson said this week the security environment had changed since the allies established the transfer requirements, and readiness evaluations are continuing.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 首尔景福宫 / Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul。图片：© Frank Schulenburg / CC BY-SA 4.0，Wikimedia Commons
