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The situation in North Korea
Analysis: North Korea heading into the heat – with China’s help

The tactic from the Western world to marginalize North Korea has failed. And China’s recent rapprochement is further strengthening the dictatorship. This is what Berlingskes’ Alexander Sjöberg writes in an analysis.

The fact that Chinese President Xi paid a visit to North Korea in early June plays a major role in this, according to Sjöberg. Not least because Xi deliberately failed to mention the country’s nuclear arsenal.

North Korea is estimated to have 50 nuclear bombs, and it is now written into the constitution that they should be used if something were to happen to the country’s dictator Kim Jong Un.

“One of the UN’s most talked-about sanctions measures can thus be dismantled before the eyes of the world.”

CNN’s Simone McCarthy and Yoojung Seo are on the same page. They note that Xi would rather see cooperation than exert pressure on his undemocratic neighbor.

“Beijing wants to cement its position as Pyongyang’s main partner,” they write.

Middle East crisis  Israel-Hezbollah
Aid from the Vatican stopped by Israeli military

A relief transport organized by the Vatican was prevented from reaching Christian villages in southern Lebanon on Friday, writes AFP. The envoy – the Vatican diplomat Paolo Borgia – was stopped by heavily armed Israeli military and forced to change course, a participant told the news agency.

Several Christian areas have been in the line of fire of the Israeli offensive. The aid convoy, which consisted of 25 trucks with supplies, is left bare as many, mainly farmers, have no access to their own fields.

The aid transport had been coordinated with UN peacekeeping forces. After the stop, they took a different route and are said to have arrived with the aid 12 hours late.

The Russian invasion  Security in Europe
Expert: Armament could be a way for Putin to stay in power

Several intelligence agencies in Europe warn that Russia could be ready to attack a NATO country within just a few years. Russia's continued defense buildup could also be a way for Vladimir Putin to maintain his grip on power in the country, says Magnus Christiansson, a lecturer in military science, in SVT's "Aktuellt".

He believes that Putin and his regime need an external enemy to justify to their population that they have switched to a war economy, and thus be able to retain power. But the buildup can also be explained by imperialist reasons, "identity reasons", says Christiansson.

- They want to revise the security order in Europe and see the Baltic states as natural parts of the Russian empire.

Political situation in the UK
Starmer: I will fight – I am not going anywhere

The pressure on Keir Starmer continues to increase, but the British Prime Minister is adamant that he will not resign.

– I am not going anywhere, he tells British media.

Earlier this week, Defense Secretary John Healey resigned in protest at Prime Minister Starmer's financial priorities in defense.

Starmer says he does not want to "throw the country into a battle for the leadership of the party."

– It should not happen. But if it does, then I will fight, says Starmer.