The defence chiefs of South Korea and the United States held face-to-face talks in Cebu, Philippines on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, with the timing of the wartime operational control (OPCON) transition from Washington to Seoul emerging as the central point of contention. The meeting between South Korea's Defence Minister Kang Shin-chul and US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) Plus, according to Seoul's defence ministry.

First One-on-One Since Kang Took Office

Wednesday's bilateral marked the first in-person meeting between the two defence chiefs since Kang assumed office in September. The encounter, held at a high-profile multilateral venue, signalled the urgency both sides attach to resolving outstanding alliance questions. Further details of the discussions were expected to be released later in the day.

The OPCON Divide

Seoul is pressing to reclaim wartime OPCON — the authority to command combined forces during a conflict — before President Lee Jae Myung's five-year term concludes in 2030. South Korea is pushing to have a target handover year formally announced at the upcoming Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), the premier annual defence dialogue between the two allies.

Washington, however, has pushed back against what it characterises as a politically driven timeline. The US position holds that the 'conditions-based' transition plan — agreed upon by both sides — must be fully satisfied before any handover. A key condition requires Seoul to demonstrate that its forces possess the core capabilities needed to independently lead combined operations once OPCON is transferred.

The allies are presently verifying the 'full operational capability' (FOC) of South Korean forces, the second of three phases under the conditions-based framework. While Seoul officials contend those benchmarks have already been met, Washington disagrees. US Forces Korea Commander General Xavier Brunson recently stated that 'conditions have changed' and that there were 'new standards' to uphold — remarks that have widened the apparent gap between the two capitals.

SCM Delay Fuels Uncertainty

The OPCON standoff has stoked speculation that the next round of SCM talks could slip into early next year. This year's SCM — which typically convenes in late October or early November — has already been postponed to December, an unusually late scheduling that has drawn scrutiny in Seoul's defence establishment.

Speaking to reporters before departing for Cebu on Tuesday, Kang said he would 'closely consult' with his US counterpart on the OPCON transfer and other alliance issues, including addressing the divergence over FOC verification 'if needed.'

Nuclear Submarine Programme Also on the Agenda

Beyond OPCON, the two ministers were also expected to discuss South Korea's push to develop a nuclear-powered submarine programme with US backing. Seoul launched the Jang Bogo N project in May with a stated goal of constructing at least three 8,000-ton vessels by the late 2030s. The programme received a green light from the Donald Trump administration following a bilateral summit between the two nations' leaders in October last year.

On the margins of the ADMM Plus gathering, Kang was also scheduled to hold a series of bilateral meetings with counterparts from other participating nations. He is set to address the ADMM Plus plenary on Thursday, where he plans to highlight what Seoul describes as the illegitimate nature of North Korea's recent land mine explosion near the inter-Korean border, as well as Seoul's broader peace efforts on the Korean Peninsula.

With the SCM date still unsettled and Washington and Seoul at odds over FOC verification, how the two sides frame their joint statement — if one is issued — will be closely watched as a signal of how much daylight remains in the alliance on OPCON.