The nation's defense minister will meet with his U.S. counterpart on February 23rd to discuss the timing of Seoul’s retaking of wartime operational command from the United States.

Defense Minister Kim Jang-soo said in a briefing on his ministry’s activities for the year that the timetable will be determined together with the U.S. defense secretary, expressing hope that it will be set during their talks next week in Washington.

Regarding the planned overhaul of Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, Kim said that the ministry will establish a command to implement wartime military operations, but will leave the Joint Chiefs of Staff intact as a decision-making body for the Korean military.

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