North Korea Nuclear Diplomacy: South Korea’s Lee Jae-myung says Trump is open to a phased approach—first freezing North Korea’s nuclear and missile work (including stopping new material, transfers, and further ICBM development), while keeping denuclearisation as a longer-term goal. Sanctions, Pressure Limits: Lee adds that sanctions and pressure alone won’t break the deadlock because Pyongyang already has nuclear weapons and keeps producing enough material for roughly 10–20 weapons a year. DPRK-Russia Tech & Security Link: North Korea marks the two-year anniversary of its Russia treaty, calling it an “essential legal weapon” for stability, while analysis of the Xi–Kim summit highlights how Pyongyang’s tilt toward Moscow is tied to support for its nuclear and missile programs. China-North Korea Alliance Reality Check: Coverage frames the China–North Korea “love fest” as strategic, not sentimental—focused on trade and exchanges, but also on rebalancing ties around Russia. Cyber & Crypto Funding Pressure: G7 leaders renew calls for joint action against North Korean cryptocurrency thefts and cybercrime, linking the activity to funding for weapons programs. AI Security Threats: A separate report warns advanced AI models are becoming both defense tools and cybercrime enablers, raising new risks for national security and infrastructure. Identity Theft via Tech Hiring: Researchers describe a large North Korea-linked employment fraud scheme targeting US tech firms using stolen identities and AI tools to gain access. Media/Surveillance Tech Use: Nikkei Asia’s AI-assisted analysis of KCTV footage claims to map Kim Ju-ae’s rising visibility, showing how computational tools are being used to read North Korea’s internal power signals.