Overview

• State media said Kim Jong Un oversaw Saturday tests of two "new" air-defense missiles that reportedly showed faster response against targets such as attack drones and cruise missiles.
• Seoul confirmed it fired warning shots Tuesday after several North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the military demarcation line during construction work before withdrawing without return fire.
• North Korean commander Ko Jong Chol condemned the incident as a deliberate provocation, warned of severe consequences, and said Pyongyang had notified U.S. forces of its border works to avoid accidents.
• Pyongyang televised memorials and repatriations for troops who fought in Russia, a rare public acknowledgment of losses, as outside estimates from South Korean intelligence put deaths at about 600 and wounded near 4,000 from roughly 15,000 deployed.
• The border flare-up comes as North Korea expands permanent fortifications along the DMZ and deepens military ties with Moscow, with Russian leaders publicly praising North Korean units involved near Kursk.