Houthis claim attack on Saudi Tanker as US Naval b…

Ukraine’s military intelligence claims that a North Korean missile unit has started deploying to western Russia, marking what could become a major expansion of military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang. According to Ukrainian officials, the unit may eventually be equipped with up to 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers for use in attacks against Ukraine. Andrii Cherniak, an official with Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence, said around 90 North Korean personnel are expected to be stationed in Russia’s Voronezh region as part of the Russian military’s 112th Missile Brigade. He added that discussions between senior Russian and North Korean officials next month are expected to determine the final deployment plan and missile numbers. Ukraine says North Korea has already delivered another batch of 40 KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles along with military personnel. These missiles reportedly have a longer range and larger payload than Russia’s Iskander missiles, although Ukrainian military sources believe they are less accurate and have caused significant civilian casualties during previous strikes. The reported deployment comes as Russia has resumed using North Korean-made ballistic missiles after nearly a year. Ukrainian authorities say two such missiles were launched last week, including one that struck the village of Radushne in central Ukraine, reportedly killing at least five members of the same family. Ukraine remains heavily dependent on advanced air defence systems, particularly US-made Patriot batteries, to intercept ballistic missiles. Military analysts warn that an increase in North Korean missile supplies would place additional pressure on Ukraine’s already stretched air defence network, especially ahead of the winter months when Russia has previously targeted the country’s energy infrastructure. Cherniak said intelligence suggests Russia intends to integrate North Korean missile forces into its operations, although the exact role of North Korean personnel has not yet been confirmed. He also stated that about 9,500 North Korean troops remain in Russia’s Kursk region, though they are not currently taking part in direct combat operations against Ukraine. Russia and North Korea have strengthened military ties since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The two countries signed a mutual defence agreement in 2024, while Kyiv accuses Pyongyang of supplying millions of artillery shells, ballistic missiles and thousands of troops to support Russia’s war effort.

France has strengthened security checks along its border with Spain following the recent migrant influx into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced on Tuesday. The enhanced border measures were introduced over the weekend on the instructions of French President Emmanuel Macron after tens of thousands of migrants crossed into Ceuta from Morocco over two days, triggering one of the region’s largest migration emergencies in recent years. Spanish authorities said the vast majority of migrants who entered the enclave had already been returned to Morocco. Officials also confirmed that at least 75 people died while attempting the dangerous crossing, highlighting the human cost of the crisis. Speaking after an emergency video conference with European interior ministers, Laurent Nunez said European Union member states had unanimously expressed solidarity with Spain and pledged support in managing the situation. He said France remained ready to provide additional assistance through Frontex, the EU’s border management agency, if required. The French minister noted that Ceuta operates under special rules within the Schengen Area and stressed that strict border controls had prevented the migration crisis from spreading to mainland Europe. Nunez also praised the cooperation between Spain and Morocco in responding to the situation, saying close coordination between the two countries had been vital in managing the large-scale arrivals. Rejecting calls from some political groups in France to suspend Spain from the Schengen free-movement zone, he said EU member states agreed that the Schengen system remained part of the solution rather than the cause of the crisis. He emphasized that the Schengen Area had not been threatened despite the surge in migration and reaffirmed France’s commitment to coordinated European efforts to address irregular migration.