Putin met North Korea's foreign minister in Moscow, praising war aid
What's new: Putin thanked Pyongyang for troops and weapons support for Russia's war in Ukraine as bilateral military ties deepen.
Channel News Asia, The Straits Times +1
Subject
#North Korea
China holds US seismologist for 2 years on espionage charge
What's next: The case could shadow Xi Jinping's expected US visit in September if Beijing does not move toward a trial or release.
BBC News (World), The New York Times +2
Japan creates new intelligence body amid China-Russia-NK threats
Parliament passed the law on 27 May, and CIRO will be upgraded into a bureau to unify cross-ministry analysis.
North Korea boosts nuclear arsenal and expands military intel
Pyongyang also widened the role of its military intelligence agency for operations and information gathering tied to South Korea.
Kim Jong Un accelerates arms buildup, warns of nuclear war
The remarks came at a three-day Workers' Party meeting amid U.S.-South Korea military modernization and debate over nuclear submarines.
Bloomberg, Antara News
Japan pushes arms exports, constitutional change in defense shift
What's new: Tokyo can now transfer lethal weapons to 17 partner countries as it weighs revising its postwar pacifist charter.
Ex-South Korea president Yoon Suk Yeol gets 30 years in drone case
The new ruling adds to Yoon's legal troubles, following a life sentence he has already appealed in the martial law case.
Antara News, Tribunnews +1
South Korea court gives Yoon 30 years over 2024 drone flights
What's new: Judges found the flights were meant to provoke Pyongyang and help justify Yoon's martial law move.
NPR, Fox News
CrowdStrike finds China drove 58% of state-backed tech hacks
Why it matters: The report tied the espionage to a race for AI and said North Korean operatives also sought remote tech jobs to fund Pyongyang.
Xi ends 2-day Pyongyang visit as China, North Korea tighten ties
Denuclearization was absent from official reports as Beijing seeks to curb Russia's influence over Pyongyang.
Earlier: Xi to make June 8-9 North Korea trip, first in nearly 7 yearsSeries: Xi Jinping · North Korea State Visit · 2 chapters since Jun 5Xi Jinping to visit Pyongyang on June 8-9, first since 2019
The two-day trip comes as Beijing works to keep Pyongyang from drifting further toward Russia.
Earlier: North Korea declares nuclear status final before Xi visitSeries: Xi Jinping · North Korea Visit · 2 chapters since Jun 5Kim pushes North Korean nuclear production, new underwater weapons
Kim wants the navy folded into nuclear deterrence, with Kang Kon and Choe Hyon moved into service faster.
Antara News, CNN Indonesia
Kim pledged exponential nuclear buildup after touring new plant
What's new: KCNA reported weapons-grade nuclear material output more than doubled over the past five years.
Bloomberg, Antara News +3