The U.S. Defense Department is saying that no changes are expected for the transfer date of wartime control to South Korea, which is scheduled to occur in 2012.

According to the South Korea-U.S Combined Forces Command (CFC) on Tuesday, the U.S. Defense Department reaffirmed that the U.S. plans to transfer control by the designated date and will continue to offer strong support to Seoul following the transfer.

CFC Commander Walter Sharp and Vice CFC Commander Lee Seong-chul visited Washington earlier this month to discuss the South Korea-U.S. alliance with senior U.S. Defense Department officials, including Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff James Cartwright.

During the five-day visit which began May fourth, the two sought to further solidify the alliance between the two countries.