Korea-Trade & Food Supply: South Korea will expand its laver (gim) export supply chain to hit $1.8bn by 2030, boosting cultivation capacity and reducing price swings as global demand rises. Energy Policy: Korea’s climate minister urged lowering industrial electricity rates to protect competitiveness while pushing clean-energy expansion. China-EU Trade: China told the EU to judge bilateral ties “objectively and rationally,” pushing back on expected new EU restrictions and rejecting “de-risking” framing. UN Diplomacy: China’s top diplomat said Beijing will join the UN chief selection in a “responsible and constructive” way. Taiwan & Travel Curbs: China imposed travel bans on New Zealand lawmakers after Taiwan visits, escalating political friction. North Korea Nuclear Buildup: Kim Jong Un inspected a new nuclear materials facility, saying weapons-grade output has more than doubled and vowing “exponential” expansion. Korea Security Talks: South Korea said US nuclear cooperation consultations in Seoul were a “success,” including work on nuclear-powered submarines and fuel capabilities. Regional Connectivity: The China-Laos Railway passed 100,000 tonnes of cross-border fruit shipments this year, with logistics cuts boosting trade. Tech & Business: LG Group plans to adopt 10,000 Nvidia GPUs for AI training tied to its research and humanoid robot work. Tourism Push: Korea’s tourism agency is using BTS events in Busan to reroute visitors toward lesser-known regions via digital packages. Sports: India’s U-18 hockey teams reached Asia Cup semis, setting a women’s clash with China and a men’s showdown with Pakistan. Local Politics: South Korea’s ruling party won most local races but failed to flip Seoul, a key test for President Lee Jae Myung’s agenda. ASEAN/Payments Flashpoint: A viral Bangkok clip claims a Chinese-run restaurant refused Thai baht and pushed renminbi payments, reigniting scrutiny of foreign-run business practices.