Nuclear Expansion: Kim Jong Un visited a newly launched nuclear material production facility and ordered an “exponential” boost to North Korea’s nuclear arsenal, claiming weapons-grade output has more than doubled in five years; Seoul assesses the site as uranium enrichment, but Pyongyang gave no location or verifiable details. Arms Control Context: A broader arms-control debate is intensifying as New START expires and major powers face pressure to expand deterrence without new legal limits. Peace Diplomacy Push: South Korea’s unification minister Chung Dong-young proposed four-way talks among the two Koreas, the U.S., and China to shift from armistice to a peace regime, with possible expansion to Mongolia, Japan, and Russia. Domestic Political Signaling (South Korea): A viral “main enemy” challenge is reviving ideological litmus tests in local election campaigning, with “North Korea” answers framed as a litmus for loyalty. Humanitarian/Legal Follow-up (Seoul): South Korea approved compensation for the family of abducted defector-turned journalist Ham Jin-woo, formally recognizing him as an abduction victim. Security Posture (U.S.-ROK): Separate reporting highlights U.S. warnings to Seoul over changes to wartime command as regional fears grow about a “second Acheson line.” Cyber Threats: A former FBI official says North Korean hackers have moved beyond brute-force into social engineering, targeting crypto ecosystems and exploiting human psychology.