1. North Korea has heavily criticized the docking of the USS Kentucky in South Korea and the launch of the S. Korea-U.S. Nuclear Consultative Group as a blatant and direct nuclear threat. South Korea’s defense ministry on Friday has warned that a nuclear weapons assault by Pyongyang will result in the regime’s demise.

2. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s nominee to become the next unification minister, Kim Young-ho, appeared before the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee for his confirmation hearing on Friday.

3. Japan on Friday returned South Korea to its “white list” of preferential trading partners after about 4 years, as ties between the two countries continue to improve after years of acrimony over wartime issues.