RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

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News | Dec. 22, 2025

What Would OPCON Transfer Mean for the UN Command in Korea?

By Dr. Clint Work The Diplomat

Considered by some as an artifact of the Cold War, the United Nations Command (UNC) continues to serve several critical roles, from maintaining the armistice agreement to coordinating multinational support for the South Korea-U.S. alliance. The ongoing transition of wartime operational control (OPCON) is structurally linked to the role and status of the UNC yet is beset by widespread ignorance and politicization. This piece offers expert insight to help better understand the complexities involved.

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Dr. Clint Work is a Research Fellow/Faculty in the Center for Strategy and Military Power in the Institute for National Strategic Studies at the National Defense University.