Asian Games Anthem Blunder: Organisers in Japan played North Korea’s national anthem before South Korea’s men’s hockey match, then corrected it after South Korean players looked “bewildered,” prompting an official complaint and a demand for assurances it won’t happen again. Pyongyang’s Nuclear Messaging: Kim Yo-jong and North Korea’s foreign ministry hit back at the IAEA, calling its criticism “biased” and insisting Pyongyang’s nuclear status is “irreversible.” Defense Industry Push: Kim Jong Un inspected major munitions factories and urged expanded production plus modernization using AI and automation. Cyber Theft Linked to Pyongyang: Japan and partners warned of the WaterPlum “Contagious Interview” operation, tied to North Korean IT networks, that stole crypto and targeted global victims. U.S.-South Korea Talks: Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met Marco Rubio in Washington, stressing Seoul’s willingness to help restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz while pushing forward delayed U.S. investment consultations. Russia-North Korea Partnership: A new analysis highlights how the expanding Moscow-Pyongyang military ties are deepening threats, including through munitions, troops, and shared wartime experience.