Kang Shin-chul says trust, not conditions, should drive OPCON transfer

Newly appointed Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul laid out his positions Tuesday on the transfer of wartime operational control, the possible integration of military academies, and a recent explosion in the Demilitarized Zone.

Kang visited the Defense Ministry press room on his first day in office and offered a candid assessment of the job ahead. "I have often heard from former ministers that the only happy day as defense minister is the day you take office — after that it is nothing but hardship," he said. "For me, the hardship began the day I was nominated. Even today I feel the weight more than the joy. I will do my best to fulfill the mission I have been given."

On the transfer of wartime operational control, Kang reaffirmed his existing position that the process should proceed "in a direction that strengthens the South Korea-US alliance."

"An alliance by definition involves a counterpart, so it cannot proceed on the basis of one side's wishes alone," he said. "This may be a personal view, but I believe trust is more important than conditions. I will lead the OPCON transfer forward without wavering, in a direction that ensures trust."

Kang flatly rejected concerns that the transfer would weaken the combined defense posture, saying it would "rather strengthen" it. Drawing on his experience as deputy commander of the Combined Forces Command, he said the Korean military already leads across a far wider range of functions than most people realize. "The planning, the programming, the CPX — the Korean military leads all of it. When I was deputy commander, I handled more than half of it myself," he said. He added that the Korean military's advantage lies not only in its knowledge of the terrain but in its deep understanding of the country, backed by the world's strongest military. "That structure is far more powerful," he said.

Asked about the outlook for negotiations ahead of the Security Consultative Meeting in November, Kang said he is coordinating communication and a possible meeting with the US secretary of defense, including a potential US visit before the SCM if necessary. On whether a verification completion date and a target year for the transfer could be specified, he said only that "the outcome cannot be prejudged, but so far South Korea and the United States have been moving forward without major disagreement."

Kang drew a distinction between what he called the "science" and the "art" of evaluating transfer conditions. "The conditions themselves are very scientific — they are assessed in red or green based on whether numerical benchmarks have been met," he said. "But whether those benchmarks are truly satisfied is a matter of perspective, and that belongs to the realm of art." He noted that the condition language refers to "alliance capabilities." "Isn't that already what we have?" he said. "That is why the art of trust matters so much."

On the controversy over integrating the Army, Navy and Air Force academies, Kang struck a subtly different tone from the government's stated position.

"I checked after arriving, and I am told the word 'closure' or 'abolition' has never been used," he said. "As long as the Army, Navy and Air Force exist as separate services, there must be an officer-training institution for each — in whatever form. That is military theory: training institutions follow the service structure." He added that talk of closing the academies was "nonsense" to him as well.

He acknowledged, however, the need for integrated education. "I clearly feel the need for integrated education, and there must be institutions and schools to support it," he said, adding that he would examine not only the French and German academies but also West Point, the Naval Academy at Annapolis and the Air Force Academy. "I am neither for something just to be for it, nor against something just to be against it. The only goal is to build academies that produce outstanding leaders," he said.

Asked whether the schedule — finalizing a plan in July and passing legislation by year's end — was being pushed back, Kang left the door open to a review. "The current proposal has its merits and drawbacks, but I believe there is a better option out there," he said. "Given how important this is, I will approach it with even greater care." On whether he would attend a planned public hearing, he said he would if it offered a broader range of views, but would opt for individual or small-group meetings if those proved more useful.

Turning to the explosion that occurred during trail-clearing operations in the DMZ, Kang said it was the first report he received after taking office. "Making sure the injured soldiers and their families can focus on treatment and recovery — and seeing that through to the end — is the top priority," he said.

He was cautious about determining the cause. "That area has seen a considerable number of incidents over the past several years," he said. "Based on what we have reviewed so far, there is no footage, and we cannot confirm whether the minefield, the patrol route and the point of the explosion all coincide." He noted that the site is outside the line of sight, making satellite positioning difficult, and that GPS errors of 10 to 20 meters are common in the DMZ.

"There are cases where a premature conclusion turns out to be wrong — the United States fought the Iraq War over exactly that kind of mistake," he said. "We must secure solid evidence. We will rule out no possibility and will thoroughly investigate the cause before taking action and responding."

Asked about a response if North Korean mines are confirmed and whether he supports calling out Pyongyang's border fortification, Kang said he agreed. "The border fortification must stop, and we must absolutely say so," he said. On whether the timing of any mine placement could be determined, he said details were limited but that investigators could distinguish between periods based on differences in the evidence, expressing confidence in the investigation team's capabilities. He pushed back on suggestions that the delayed explanation of the incident reflected deference to North Korea. "We are not deferring to anyone. I have stated clearly that the North Korean military is the enemy," he said.

On the need to reinforce protective equipment, Kang said he agreed and that the military needed to weigh whether to bolster mine-detection and removal equipment or explore alternatives such as robots. "However, please understand that there are still many places in the DMZ where humans have no choice but to go," he added.