Kang Hyun-woo is a lieutenant general in the South Korean military and the chief director of operations at the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The operations directorate he leads plans and directs the South Korean armed forces' operations.
Case
Seoul's military says North Korean mines likely caused two September 21 DMZ blasts that wounded three soldiers. North Korea calls the findings groundless. The UN Command said it identified an active North Korean mine south of the line but named no side.
Role at the time: Chief director of operations at South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, reading the military's statement at a press briefing at the Ministry of National Defense
Response to this claim
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said on September 28, 2026 that North Korean land mines were highly likely the cause of the two explosions that wounded three South Korean soldiers south of the Military Demarcation Line on September 21, and said on September 30 that South Korean soldiers were seriously injured by North Korean landmines while conducting search operations south of that line.
“This constitutes a blatant violation of the Armistice Agreement and undermines the spirit of existing inter-Korean agreements and must be halted immediately ... We strongly demand an apology and responsible measures from the North ... We make it explicitly clear that North Korea bears full responsibility for any future consequences that may arise”
Kang called the situation "a blatant violation of the Armistice Agreement" that must be halted, and in the same briefing said, "We strongly demand an apology and responsible measures from the North" and "North Korea bears full responsibility for any future consequences that may arise." That attributes the mines to North Korea and criticizes the conduct, so we labeled it Condemned. The JCS had not yet issued a final investigation result when he spoke.
Statement dates: September 30, 2026
Statement dates: September 30, 2026
Statement dates: September 30, 2026
