South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back acknowledged Tuesday that Seoul and Washington hold “slightly different” views on the timeline and conditions for transferring wartime operational control (OPCON), a long-delayed process aimed at placing Seoul in command of allied forces during a potential war with North Korea.

Seoul’s defense ministry confirmed to NK News that Ahn made the remarks during a roundtable with news reporters at the South Korean Embassy in Washington following his first visit to the U.S. as defense chief.

Ahn’s remarks follow recent commentsby U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Xavier T. Brunson. He testified before the