SEOUL, Aug. 18 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday reaffirmed his commitment to regaining wartime operational control (OPCON) of troops from the United States before his term ends, stressing the importance of self-reliant defense capabilities.
The president reiterated the commitment during a Cabinet meeting, saying the OPCON transfer should be completed during his term, as the government initially planned.
The president also instructed officials to speed up the implementation of a project to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, saying that independent defense capabilities and a strong alliance between Seoul and Washington should complement each other.
President Lee Jae Myung attends a Cabinet meeting on Aug. 18, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
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