North Korea
North Korea accused South Korea of "dangerous provocation" after warning shots were fired at the border. The incident occurred during the construction of a barrier and annual joint military exercises between the US and South Korea.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held an award ceremony for DPRK soldiers who fought on Russia's side against Ukraine, calling them "heroic. " He laid flowers at the memorial wall for the fallen and held a banquet for the military.
European leaders are considering the concept of "forces of assurance" as a central element of security guarantees for Ukraine. The US excludes the presence of its troops, leaving responsibility to Europe, but its support remains key.
North Korea has built a secret military base, Sinpung-dong, 27 km from the Chinese border. It is likely to house 6-9 intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un announced intentions to strengthen the country's nuclear potential, enraged by joint military exercises between the US and South Korea. He called them a "provocation to war" and a "call for rapid expansion of nuclear potential."
Latvia, Finland, and Lithuania have banned or restricted real estate purchases by Russian citizens for national security reasons. Estonia, Norway, and the state of Texas are also considering similar measures.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung proposed "peace without absorption" to North Korea, recognizing its political system and renouncing violent unification. He called for the restoration of the 2018 military agreement to reduce tensions, despite North Korea's recent rejection of reconciliation.
The sister of the DPRK leader, Kim Yo Jong, refuted Seoul's statements about the dismantling of North Korean loudspeakers on the border. She accused South Korea of excessive optimism and emphasized that Pyongyang has no intention of removing them.
Kyrylo Budanov stated that Ukraine, Russia, and North Korea have experience in conducting modern warfare on a wide front. North Korea is gaining unique combat experience, but its troops are suffering significant losses.
North Korea plans to transfer 6,000 military personnel and up to a hundred units of equipment, including tanks, to Russia. Russia is financing the participation of North Korean troops in the war against Ukraine.
Putin held a phone conversation with Kim Jong Un, discussing the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation and upcoming talks with Trump. The meeting between the presidents of Russia and the United States is scheduled for August 15 in Alaska.
Ukrainian FPV pilots in Sumy region destroyed a North Korean 140-mm mortar. This rare equipment, received by the Russians from the DPRK, will now appear in enemy casualty reports.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), stated that Putin continues to pretend that he can talk about Ukraine without Ukraine. He noted that this is his way of thinking, but Russia is a country of limited subjectivity.
Oleksandr Lukashenka stated that Putin did not ask Belarus for military assistance, as this would create more problems. He noted that Belarus has a long border with Ukraine, which would be difficult to control.
A state-owned explosives manufacturer in Russia acquired Siemens equipment through an intermediary that procures technology from Chinese wholesalers. This allowed for the expansion of production despite Western sanctions.
On August 6, 2024, the Kursk offensive operation began, as a result of which the Russian army lost more than 77,000 servicemen. The Armed Forces of Ukraine controlled up to 1300 km² of the Kursk region, disrupting enemy logistics and forming a buffer zone.
South Korea has begun dismantling loudspeakers that broadcast K-pop and propaganda into North Korea. This follows President Lee Jae-myung's order to cease broadcasts to de-escalate tensions.
Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak discussed with his Japanese counterpart Masataka Okano Russia's military cooperation with North Korea. The parties agreed on regular information exchange and coordination of positions in the field of defense technologies.
Ukraine is carrying out the largest construction of defensive fortifications since the beginning of the full-scale war, allocating over 46 billion hryvnias. These fortifications, which include anti-tank ditches and barbed wire, are designed to deter a possible Russian summer offensive in the east.
Relations between DPRK leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump remain at a "not bad" level, which may indicate Pyongyang's readiness for negotiations with the new US administration. However, North Korea promises to react to attempts to stop its nuclear program.
Pavlo Shamshyn, spokesman for the Kharkiv Joint Forces Operation Group, reported that Russian occupiers are bogged down near Pokrovsk, although the situation there remains difficult. He also commented on Reuters' information about the possible deployment of North Korean troops to Russia.
Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak stated that Russia seeks to destroy Ukraine, disguising the war as "protection of its interests. " He noted that Russia receives assistance from North Korea and Iran, and also circumvents sanctions with the help of other countries of the Global South.
Russia has depleted its vast stockpiles of Soviet-era weapons, leading to a reduction in supplies from military depots to the front lines to 2022 levels. The country is increasingly dependent on supplies from China, North Korea, and Iran to support its defense industry and army.
Russia launched direct passenger flights from Moscow to Pyongyang, which will operate once a month. This step deepens cooperation between the countries, which includes military aid and ammunition supplies.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, stated that there will be no classic World War III, as the world lives in a state of constant undeclared war. He noted that wars are waged in proxy forms, locally, fragmented, in cyberspace, and in the information field.
South Korean lawmakers stated that the DPRK could send additional troops to Russia in July-August to participate in the war against Ukraine. In exchange for weapons, Moscow is likely transferring military technologies for satellites and navigation to Pyongyang.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported over 80,000 Russian military personnel killed or wounded during the Kursk offensive operation. He also noted Russia's use of fiber-optic drones and the appearance of North Korean military units in this direction.
According to Martin Wolf, the outcome of the war in Ukraine will affect the future of European liberal democracy. He emphasized that Ukraine is fighting for the right to choose its own destiny, against Russia's autocracy and its desire to dominate Europe.
North Korea and Russia are deepening economic ties, as evidenced by the appearance of North Korean goods on the Russian market. Experts believe this could have a transformative impact on the DPRK's economy.
North Korea has temporarily banned foreign tourists from visiting the new Wonsan Kalma resort on the Sea of Japan. The decision was made a few days after the visit of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.