What Would OPCON Transfer Mean for the UN Command in Korea?

Abstract

This article in The Diplomat by Dr. Clint Work, in the INSS Center for Strategy and Military Power, examines the implications of wartime operational control (OPCON) transition from the United States to the Republic of Korea (ROK) for the U.S.-led United Nations Command (UNC) on the Korean Peninsula. While OPCON transition shifts wartime leadership from the U.S.-led Combined Forces Command to a ROK-led Future Combined Forces Command, it does not alter the UNC’s continued U.S. leadership or its core responsibilities, including armistice enforcement, coordination with UNC Sending States, and access to UNC-Rear bases in Japan. Drawing on historical analysis and expert perspectives from U.S., South Korean, and Japanese specialists, the article assesses how persistent misunderstandings of the UNC’s legal authorities have fueled its politicization within South Korea’s sovereignty and alliance debates. It argues that effective OPCON transition and regional stability depend on defining the roles of the UNC, the Future Combined Forces Command, and U.S. Forces Korea.

Document Type

Article

Topic(s)

Defense Policy, Military Strategy, National Security

Region(s)

East Asia, Korean Peninsula

Publication Date

12-19-2025

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