South Korea, US spar over transfer of wartime command

What happened: South Korea has pressed the U.S. to return wartime operational control of its military, but Washington's hesitation has exposed a rift between the allies over who would command South Korean forces in a crisis. Why it matters: An American general said "new standards" need to be upheld before any transfer. Under current rules, the commander of U.S. forces in South Korea, who also heads the United Nations Command, has operational control over South Korean forces in wartime.

South Korea has pressed the U.S. to return wartime operational control of its military, but Washington's hesitation has exposed a rift between the allies over who would command South Korean forces in a crisis.

An American general said "new standards" need to be upheld before any transfer. Under current rules, the commander of U.S. forces in South Korea, who also heads the United Nations Command, has operational control over South Korean forces in wartime.