Inter-Korean Border Management: South Korea will ease long-standing restrictions near the DMZ by shrinking the Civilian Control Line toward the Military Demarcation Line, with the average distance cut to about 6 km and drone rules for farming simplified—aimed at easing burdens on border residents while keeping military effectiveness. US–North Korea Diplomacy Push: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung urged Donald Trump at the G7 to take the lead on peaceful resolution of the North Korea issue, drawing a parallel to how Washington handled the Iran track; Trump said he would work on the matter, with renewed interest in direct engagement with Kim Jong Un. Pyongyang Signals and Posture: North Korea fired an unidentified projectile off its west coast, South Korea’s JCS said, following earlier short-range missile tests; separately, Pyongyang has intensified messaging that its nuclear status is “irreversible.” China–North Korea Political Alignment: After Xi Jinping’s Pyongyang visit, North Korean authorities issued follow-up directives praising the trip as a “diplomatic victory” and highlighting promised food and energy support. Domestic Pressure in North Korea: Pyongyang cracked down on moonshine production in Ryanggang amid grain shortages and rising food prices, with inspections, confiscations, and pressure on distribution networks. Technology and Security Capacity: A South Korean report says North Korea is using older Nvidia and Qualcomm hardware to train smaller AI models for military, surveillance, and cyber uses—suggesting progress without top-tier AI infrastructure. Regional Context from G7: G7 leaders welcomed the US–Iran deal tied to reopening the Strait of Hormuz and pledged stronger sanctions on Russia’s oil and gas, while reaffirming support for Ukraine—setting the wider diplomatic backdrop for Seoul’s outreach.