Russia-North Korea Military Link: Ukrainian President Zelensky again warned that Russia has received more North Korean ballistic missiles and is preparing to host an additional 30,000–50,000 North Korean troops, urging Seoul and Tokyo to provide air defense as Pyongyang gains modern combat experience with Moscow. Combat-Use of DPRK Systems: Ukraine reported that Russian strikes on Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia involved North Korean ballistic missiles alongside Zircon cruise missiles, underscoring how DPRK support is shifting from supply to operational impact. Missile-Crew Training: Ukraine’s intelligence claims North Korean missile personnel are embedding inside a Russian brigade to gain real launch experience, a step that could translate into faster, more effective employment against the Korean Peninsula. Regional Deterrence Posture: South Korea and the U.S. announced Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises next week, explicitly factoring in drone, GPS disruption, and cyber threats shaped by DPRK lessons from Ukraine. Diplomatic Friction with Japan: Pyongyang denounced Japan’s 2026 defense white paper as a “re-invasion” justification for militarization, continuing a sharp propaganda campaign around Tokyo’s security policy. Cyber and Insider Threat: The FBI is investigating a yearslong North Korean remote IT worker scheme that has reached the U.S. federal government, while Canada issued warnings about DPRK IT workers using AI to evade detection and enable fraud and data theft. Seoul’s Ukraine Arms Line: South Korea reiterated it will keep providing non-lethal support to Ukraine while withholding lethal systems, even as Zelensky presses for air defense amid reports of expanded DPRK troop deployments. North Korea’s Domestic Economy: Daily NK reports state grain shops are increasingly run in practice by wealthy private merchants (“donju”), reflecting limits in state procurement and distribution capacity.