North Korea Weapons Testing: Kim Jong Un watched major weapons trials aimed at upgrading strike power along the southern border, including a “special mission” tactical ballistic missile warhead, an upgraded 240mm 24-tube multiple rocket launcher with automated guidance and extended range, and extended-range artillery shells—KCNA framed the results as proof of “technological progress” and a push for a “deadly and destructive offensive posture” targeting South Korea and U.S. bases. South Korea Drone Buildout: In response, South Korea announced a rapid unmanned shift: training 500,000 “drone warriors” so every service member can operate drones as a “second personal weapon,” procuring tens of thousands of low-cost drones, and fast-tracking the domestically developed long-range loitering munition K-Lucas (reverse-engineered from Iran’s Shahed-136 concept), plus counter-drone defenses using lasers and high-power microwaves. Defense Policy Forum: Yonhap hosted a symposium on security policy amid weakening alliances and economic security risks, with calls for a practical, phased approach to the North’s nuclear issue and renewed dialogue. Tourism & Infrastructure: Kim inspected new facilities at the Wonsan-Kalma coastal resort, including a railway station and an emergency treatment center, as Pyongyang tries to draw more visitors for hard currency. Crypto Compliance Watch: CoinEx publicly disputed a Wall Street Journal report about Iran-linked flows, saying it has no Iran government ties and highlighting compliance steps and domain blocking since 2021.