UN Sanctions Pressure: The UN Security Council strongly condemned two North Korean ballistic missile launches, calling them a “grave violation” of the ban on all ballistic missile activity and urging full enforcement of tougher March sanctions, including mandatory cargo inspections. China-North Korea Diplomacy: Xi Jinping told North Korea to keep “strategic resolve” and speed up follow-through on agreements after his Pyongyang visit, while KCNA reported Xi reaffirming China’s commitment to the friendship treaty. Premier Pak’s China Trip: North Korea’s Premier Pak Thae Song is in Beijing for events marking the 65th anniversary of the 1961 friendship treaty, underscoring deepening alliance ties. Domestic Readiness Checks: North Korea ordered surprise inspections of civilian militias’ war readiness ahead of the July 27 armistice anniversary, with checks reportedly starting July 1. Travel Rules Hit Some Visitors: The US updated Visa Waiver Programme rules: travelers who have visited North Korea (from March 1, 2011 onward) may lose visa-free eligibility and must apply for a standard visitor visa. Infrastructure Watch for Travelers: Flooding near the DMZ forced evacuation of visitors at Pilseung Bridge in South Korea, a reminder that border-area plans can be disrupted by weather. Luxury Construction Signals Spending: Satellite-based reporting says Kim Jong Un has been remodeling multiple luxury compounds, including a private beachfront complex in Wonsan—useful context for how “tourism” narratives may clash with regime priorities.