Artillery Push: Kim Jong-un ordered stronger mortar and howitzer forces during inspections of munitions factories, stressing “high-precision” bullet production and directing a specialized artillery production complex as Pyongyang ramps up its 2026 weapons plan. Labor & Demographics: North Korea raised the mandatory retirement age for office workers by three years (63 men, 58 women), a rare confirmation that pension rules are being adjusted amid aging. Workforce Politics: The country’s largest labor group held its first congress in five years, electing new leadership and urging implementation of the five-year economic plan. Diplomatic Outreach: Vietnam’s foreign minister arrived in Pyongyang as a special envoy for President Tô Lâm, fueling talk of Hanoi’s possible mediator role between the two Koreas. Shadow Nuclear Logistics: A “ghost ship” story is back in focus after reports of explosions and renewed speculation about Russian cargo tied to nuclear components bound for North Korea—still officially murky. Regional Pressure: South Korea said it will jail unauthorized drone launches into North Korea, underscoring how the peninsula’s security posture keeps tightening.