U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a joint press conference with his Japanese counterpart in Tokyo on Oct. 29, 2025. (Yonhap)
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 29 (Korea Bizwire) – En route to Kuala Lumpur, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth offered a strikingly positive endorsement of South Korea’s ambitions to reclaim wartime operational control from Washington, signaling a shift in how the alliance conceives of leadership during a crisis on the Korean Peninsula.
Speaking to reporters aboard his plane Wednesday, Hegseth described Seoul’s quest to regain wartime OPCON within President Lee Jae Myung’s five-year term as “great.” His comments underscored a broader message that the United States expects wealthy and capable allies to share more of the strategic burden.
“The more capabilities of our allies the better,” Hegseth said. “South Korea is a strong, combat-credible partner, positioned next to a persistent threat and increasingly willing to take the lead.”
For decades, operational control in wartime has remained in U.S. hands, a legacy of the Korean War. South Korea regained peacetime authority in 1994, yet Washington still retains the ability to command troops should conflict erupt.
The transfer issue is now poised to become a focal point of next week’s annual Security Consultative Meeting in Seoul, where Hegseth will meet Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back.
This photo, taken on Aug. 27, 2025, shows South Korean and U.S. troops engaging in a river-crossing exercise in Yeoju, 64 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Hegseth’s language reflects the outlook of the Trump administration, which has pressed allies to spend more and assume greater responsibility for their own defense. He rejected any suggestion that U.S. support would waver once Seoul takes command.
The secretary instead framed the shift as simple logic. “Why would you want a relationship that requires only U.S. leadership in contingencies,” he asked, “when you have a wealthy, strong, motivated nation capable of doing that.”
His remarks came amid speculation on Washington’s priorities in Asia. Recent reports suggested the Pentagon might be redefining its regional defense line and pulling focus closer to home. Hegseth dismissed that idea as unfamiliar and inaccurate.
He also pushed back on speculation that the United States is seeking a multilateral alliance in the Indo-Pacific modeled on NATO. The United States, he said, is favoring flexible cooperation through bilateral and trilateral arrangements rather than a single formal structure.
Hegseth acknowledged that a forthcoming national defense strategy will emphasize protecting the U.S. homeland and Western Hemisphere, though he insisted that does not signal a reduced effort to deter China. He pointed to a potential reallocation of assets, not a strategic retreat.
The secretary is in the midst of a regional tour, with stops in Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam and South Korea. His affirmation of Seoul’s growing leadership comes at a moment when the alliance is attempting to redefine itself for a new era, one in which shared responsibility is increasingly seen as the foundation of security.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
