Cuba Reaffirms Anti-Drug Cooperation as Tensions Rise in the Caribbean 
Hong Kong Faces Low Turnout in “Patriots-Only” Election Amid Public Grief After Deadly Fire 
U.S. Repatriation Flight Carrying 266 Venezuelan Migrants Lands in Caracas 
U.S. Defense Chief Pete Hegseth Defends Controversial Second Strike on Suspected Drug-Smuggling Vessel 
Maduro Confirms “Respectful” Call With Trump, Signals Openness to Diplomatic Dialogue 
Trump Administration Halts Immigration, Green Card, and Citizenship Processing for 19 Countries 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Australia and Japan Strengthen Defence Cooperation Amid Rising Regional Tensions 
Honduras Election Turmoil Deepens as Nasralla Alleges Fraud in Tight Presidential Race 
Trump Administration Tightens H-1B Visa Vetting With New Focus on Free Speech and Censorship 
U.S. Expected to Expand Travel Ban to More Than 30 Countries 
Israel Receives Body of Deceased Hostage as Rafah Crossing Reopening Hinges on Final Returns 
Trump and Lula Discuss Trade, Sanctions, and Security in “Productive” Phone Call 
U.S.-Russia Talks Leave Ukraine Peace Efforts Uncertain 
Trump Claims He Will Void Biden Documents Signed with Autopen 
U.S. Justice Department Orders Intensified Probe Into Antifa and Domestic Extremist Groups 
Taiwan Opposition Criticizes Plan to Block Chinese App Rednote Over Security Concerns 
North Korea has fired artillery shots into the maritime buffer zone separating the isolated nation from South Korea. The artillery shots are the latest in Pyongyang’s provocative actions that have drawn the ire of South Korea.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement Monday that North Korea fired around 130 artillery rounds into the maritime buffer zone from two sites. One barrage was fired from North Korea’s east coast, and another series of shots from the west coast. The South Korean military said it was a “clear violation” of the 2018 agreement between North and South Korea that established the buffer zone to reduce tensions.
The North Korean military said the artillery shots aimed to be a warning against the ongoing South Korean artillery drills near the inland border area of Cheorwon. Pyongyang also accused South Korea of worsening tensions in the peninsula.
Seoul said that none of the shells crossed the Northern Limit Line, which is the de facto maritime border between the two nations. The military said it issued several warnings over North Korea’s artillery “barrage” but did not give any further details.
“Our military is strengthening its readiness posture in preparation for emergencies while tracking and monitoring related developments under close cooperation between South Korea and the United States,” said Seoul.
North Korean state media outlet KCNA reported that the artillery barrage was a “tit for tat” warning in response to South Korea firing dozens of projectiles earlier. Pyongyang has repeatedly fired artillery into the buffer zone in recent months, along with a record number of missile launches.
Pyongyang has since ordered new artillery firings on Tuesday into the sea for the second consecutive day. The new artillery barrages are in protest of the drills conducted by Seoul and Washington in the inland border region. The spokesman for the North Korean military said the latest planned barrage was meant to be a “warning” to South Korea and that it was a response to South Korea’s artillery exercises.
South Korea and the US are currently conducting live-fire drills involving multiple rocket-launching systems and howitzers in two separate testing grounds in Cheorwon, which started on Monday and will continue until Wednesday.
