North Korea-Russia Ties: Kim Jong Un told Vladimir Putin he will give “invariable support” to Russia’s “sacred” war, signaling deeper military and economic cooperation as Seoul watches for possible further troop deployments. Justice System Shake-Up: A justice minister nominee, Kim Seung-won, faces a confirmation hearing amid allegations tied to speeding up a COVID-19 drug trial—raising fresh questions about public trust as prosecution reform moves forward. Digital Divide Policy: South Korea is pushing “digital survival” training for seniors after stark gaps in smartphone and app use leave older people struggling with everyday services. Seoul Governance & Housing: Seoul’s land transaction permit filings fell again, while redevelopment groups warn of mounting costs and delays as rebuilding levies near. Economy & Markets: The won’s August surge helped pull export prices down, but investors remain jittery over AI slowdown talk, oil prices, and rising rate expectations. Finance Leadership: Finance minister nominee Lee Hyoung-il apologized over not living in his Gwacheon apartment, while vowing to tackle inflation and stabilize livelihoods. Foreign Policy & Diplomacy: President Lee Jae Myung is set for back-to-back Central Asia summits with Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, with energy and critical minerals on the agenda. Tech & Industry: Samsung SDS became Anthropic’s first Select Tier partner in the Claude network, aiming to expand enterprise AI deployments. Public Safety & Security: North Korea fired short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea off its east coast, prompting an emergency security review in Seoul.