North Korea Cyber Threat: CrowdStrike says a North Korea-linked group, “Famous Chollima,” drove about 47% of state-backed intrusions targeting the tech sector in the past year, using AI-enhanced fake identities and remote-job scams to get “hands-on” access, steal intellectual property, and siphon cryptocurrency funds back to Pyongyang. Nuclear Deterrence Talks: The U.S. and South Korea held Nuclear Consultative Group talks in Seoul, focusing on information sharing, crisis procedures, joint drills, and readiness as Pyongyang expands weapons-grade nuclear material production and calls for “exponential” growth. Nuclear Fuel Expansion Watch: A Vertic analysis says a Yongbyon uranium-enrichment facility could boost North Korea’s enrichment capacity by roughly 75%, potentially accelerating fissile-material output. Inter-Korean Drone Fallout: South Korea’s court sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to 30 years over drone flights into Pyongyang, framing the operation as intended to provoke a North Korean response and create a pretext for his failed martial law bid—raising new questions about how such tech-linked incidents shape political narratives. Tech Diplomacy Angle: South Korea and Italy agreed to a special strategic partnership, with cooperation flagged for semiconductors, AI, defense manufacturing, aerospace, energy, and biotechnology.