Hegseth calls Lee's push for early Opcon transfer a 'breath of fresh air'

Hegseth calls for 'balanced' OPCON transfer where US military roles are 'honored' - The Korea Times

U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth called for a "balanced" OPCON transfer to South Korea at the Shangri-La Dialogue, emphasizing that decades of U.S. military roles must be honored during the transition. The diverging Seoul-Washington timelines signal continued U.S. influence over Indo-Pacific command structures, with direct implications for allied defense procurement and regional security commitments.