The Variables of OPCON: The ‘Control Rod’ Logic in Today’s ROK-US Alliance

Abstract

This article, the second in a series for The Diplomat by Dr. Clint Work, examines the persistence and evolution of the “control rod” logic in the 2010s as it shaped the wartime operational control (OPCON) transition from the United States to the Republic of Korea (ROK). Focusing on political leadership changes in Seoul and Washington, key alliance agreements, and the implementation of the Condition-based Operational Control Transition Plan (COTP), the article highlights how U.S.-ROK policymakers navigated shifting strategic priorities, North Korean threats, and domestic political dynamics. By tracing developments under Presidents Park, Moon, Yoon, and Lee, alongside the Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations, the study demonstrates how enduring U.S. command influence and allied security dependencies have complicated efforts to transfer wartime OPCON, offering insight into the challenges of alliance modernization, extended deterrence, and regional stability in Northeast Asia.

Document Type

Article

Topic(s)

Defense Policy, Military Strategy, National Security, Nuclear Deterrence and Escalation

Region(s)

Northeast Asia, East Asia, Korean Peninsula

Publication Date

8-8-2025

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