US-South Korea Security Meeting Sparks Tension Over Military Control

Allison Hooker, the State Department’s under secretary for political affairs, is in South Korea to launch follow-up security consultations stemming from the recent Korea–U.S. leaders’ joint briefing. While in Seoul, she held a separate meeting with U.S. Forces Korea commander Javier Brunson. U.S. Forces Korea posted on X on June 2 a photo of the two shaking hands and said, “Commander Brunson welcomed Under Secretary Hooker to Seoul.” Brunson and Hooker met at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul to discuss bilateral issues, according to reports. The meeting attracted attention because it came amid visible disagreements between Commander Brunson and the South Korean government over the planned transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON). [Source: U.S. Forces Korea X] #UnitedStates #USFK #military #defense #securitytalks Yonhap News TV — story tips and inquiries: KakaoTalk/Line jebo23; Bae Si-jin (sea@yna.co.kr)