Lee reaffirms OPCON transfer within term, urges faster nuclear submarine build

President Lee Jae Myung reaffirmed his commitment to regain wartime operational control from the United States within his term, while calling for faster progress on South Korea’s nuclear-powered submarine program. Lee made the remarks at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday at Cheong Wa Dae as South Korea kicked off its four-day annual Ulchi civil defense and emergency preparedness exercise alongside Ulchi Freedom Shield, an annual Korea-US combined military exercise. “A strong national defense is the m