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North Korea's U.N. envoy stated that the country is not bound under any circumstances by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), rejecting external pressure to change its status as a nuclear-armed state. The remarks came amid ongoing NPT review talks at the United Nations, with South Korea's foreign ministry countering that Pyongyang cannot be recognized as a nuclear-weapon state under the treaty.
South Korea and Japan held their first 'two-plus-two' vice-ministerial security talks in Seoul, upgrading consultations from the director-general level. The meeting focused on bilateral and trilateral security cooperation with the U.S., amid regional tensions and the Middle East crisis. Seoul also clarified it is not considering a military logistics agreement with Tokyo, despite Japan's reported interest.
North Korea has amended its constitution to remove references to reunification with South Korea, introduce a new territorial clause, and formalize Kim Jong Un's authority over nuclear weapons. The changes mark a significant policy shift, with analysts and officials interpreting them as a move towards a two-state relationship and a potential reduction in hostility.
With South Korea's June 3 local elections approaching, ruling and opposition parties are at odds over a controversial special counsel bill and the long-vacant post of special inspector general for presidential corruption. The ruling DPK seeks to probe alleged prosecutorial overreach by the previous administration, while the PPP warns of judicial manipulation. Meanwhile, President Lee has asked both parties to recommend a candidate for the inspector post, vacant since 2016, but the proposal has sparked criticism that the move may be designed to replace the probe into his own wife and aides.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has called for 'advanced discussions' on revising Japan's pacifist constitution, as the country witnesses its largest anti-war protests in decades. Opinion polls show deep public divisions, with protesters, including a growing number of women, expressing alarm over what they see as a drift away from post-war pacifism.
Nearly 30 Democratic lawmakers, led by Rep. Joaquin Castro, have sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging the Trump administration to end its longstanding policy of ambiguity and publicly acknowledge Israel’s nuclear weapons program. The request comes amid the ongoing US-Israel military campaign against Iran, with lawmakers arguing that secrecy undermines nonproliferation efforts and increases the risk of nuclear escalation.
At their first bilateral summit, EU and Armenian leaders adopted a joint declaration identifying transport, energy, and digitalization as key areas for strategic cooperation. The new connectivity partnership aims to deepen economic ties, though Armenia's reliance on Russian energy and its membership in the Eurasian Economic Union remain complicating factors.
An explosion and fire aboard a South Korean-operated ship in the Strait of Hormuz has triggered a diplomatic push by U.S. President Donald Trump for Seoul to join the American-led 'Project Freedom' mission. While Trump blames Iran, South Korean authorities are investigating the cause, and Iran has denied involvement.
The European Commission has barred EU funding for solar inverter projects involving companies from high-risk countries, including China and Russia, citing fears of grid vulnerabilities. The move, confirmed in early May, reflects growing concerns about Europe's dependence on Chinese green technology. China's Commerce Ministry has criticized the decision as unfair and discriminatory.
South Korea's ruling Democratic Party has proposed a special counsel bill to investigate alleged fabricated indictments against President Lee Jae Myung, but has delayed its processing until after local elections. The opposition People Power Party criticizes the bill as unconstitutional and a move to shield the president, while a parliamentary committee has filed complaints against 31 individuals.
North Korea's Naegohyang Women's FC traveled to South Korea for an AFC Women's Champions League semifinal, marking the first such visit in over seven years and sparking cautious optimism about inter-Korean relations. However, Pyongyang's state media downplayed the South Korean venue, and subsequent missile launches underscored persistent tensions, leading South Korean officials to temper expectations.
North Korea has rejected US accusations of cyber threats, calling them 'absurd slander' aimed at justifying Washington's hostile policy. The denial follows US sanctions and legal actions against individuals linked to North Korean IT worker schemes, which officials say continue to fund weapons programs.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for a greater role of young people in party affairs, while state media reported plans to deploy new long-range artillery near the border with South Korea. The announcements come amid ongoing tensions and diplomatic exchanges.
Russia's UN envoy Vasily Nebenzya told the Security Council that sanctions against North Korea are counterproductive and no longer relevant, calling for humanitarian easing as a first step toward dialogue. He reiterated Moscow's proposal to revise the sanctions regime, saying the Council erred in making them permanent.
A report by the Transitional Justice Working Group documents a sharp rise in executions and death sentences in North Korea after the country closed its borders in January 2020, with cultural and political offenses overtaking murder as the most common capital crimes.
South Korean and Chinese officials met in Qingdao to address illegal fishing, reviewing upcoming revisions to their fisheries laws. Separately, South Korea's coast guard seized two Chinese boats in the Yellow Sea, during which one Chinese sailor died of cardiac arrest.
North Korea is implementing nationwide measures to protect crops from an unusually severe drought, with Premier Pak Thae-song conducting on-site inspections in key farming provinces. The country, already on the UN's food-deficit list for 19 consecutive years, faces compounded food insecurity from sanctions, border closures, and extreme weather linked to climate change.
Kim Jong Un has publicly lauded North Korean soldiers who chose suicide over capture while fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, marking the first direct confirmation of a policy long suspected by intelligence agencies. Reports indicate Pyongyang has sent over 14,000 troops to the Kursk region, with more than 6,000 killed, and has supplied Moscow with artillery and missiles in exchange for economic and military assistance.
The US State Department will release a limited number of commemorative passports featuring President Donald Trump's portrait to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The design includes Trump's image alongside the Declaration and his gold signature, sparking criticism from Democrats who call it vanity. The passports will be available at the Washington Passport Agency while supplies last.
South Korea's Seoul High Court increased the corruption sentence for former first lady Kim Keon Hee to four years in prison, finding her guilty of stock manipulation and accepting luxury gifts. Her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol, remains jailed on other convictions. The court's presiding judge was later found dead, with police investigating the circumstances.