South Korea, US spar over transfer of wartime command

American general says 'new standards' need to be upheld before transfer South Korean soldiers walk during training. Under current rules, the commander of U.S. forces in South Korea -- who doubles as head of the United Nations Command -- has operational control over South Korean forces in wartime. (Photo by Nikkei) SEOUL -- South Korea has pressed the U.S. to hand back wartime control of its military, but hesitation on the part of Washington has exposed a rift between the allies over who would command South Korean forces in a crisis.