From military warnings to global maneuvers; is North Korea poised for a strategic shift?

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon.

Tensions are rising ahead of the Ulchi Freedom Shield drills starting August 18th.

North Korea warns it will defend itself if "red lines" are crossed, while calling the exercises a "real nuclear war simulation."

Yet in a rare gesture, Pyongyang has also taken down some of its border loudspeakers after the South removed theirs.

Kim Jong-un's daughter, Kim Ju-ae, is appearing more often at military events, stirring succession talk.

And as Washington and Seoul prepare for a key summit, the North is tightening military ties with Russia, pledging thousands more personnel by year's end.

To help us break down what's driving these moves and where the Peninsula may be headed, we're joined by Go Myong-hyun, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy. Welcome.

Also joining us from New York is Dr. Mark Barry, Associate Editor Emeritus at the International Journal on World Peace. Good to see you.

(GO) 1. To start, in a couple of days, the Ulchi Freedom Shield drills will bring in U.S. Marines and UN Command troops.

Pyongyang warns it will "exercise sovereign self-defense" if red lines are crossed.

Dr. Go, why raise the statement's rank but keep the tone restrained?

(BARRY) 2. Staying with the drills, the North's defense minister calls them a "real nuclear war simulation" that will make the Peninsula less safe.

Dr. Barry, is this meant to deter the drills, rally the public, or sway foreign opinion?

(GO) 3. At the same time, some field training exercises have been postponed to September, though the North didn't mention it.

Dr. Go, could this change affect Pyongyang's military stance?

(BARRY) 4. In a related move, after Seoul removed its anti-North loudspeakers, Pyongyang dismantled some of its 40-plus along the border.

Dr. Barry, is this proportional de-escalation or just symbolic?

(GO) 5. Turning to leadership signals, Kim Jong-un's daughter Kim Ju-ae has made 39 public appearances since late 2022, including 24 at military events, often beside her father.

Dr. Go, is this a clear succession signal, and how might the world react to a female leader?

(BARRY) 6. Adding to that, she's been visible at missile launches, military inspections, and space program briefings.

Dr. Barry, what's the message behind her heavy military exposure?

(GO) 7. Looking ahead, the August 25th Seoul-Washington summit will be the first between President Trump and President Lee Jae Myung, with North Korea high on the agenda.

Dr. Go, how might Trump's interest in talks with Kim reshape inter-Korean diplomacy?

(BARRY) 8. But on that point, there's concern about "Korea passing" if Trump and Kim restart direct talks without Seoul.

Dr. Barry, how real is that risk, and how can Seoul avoid being sidelined?

(GO) 9. Meanwhile, Russian visits to North Korea hit 2,772 in quarter two 2025, the highest since 2011, while Moscow stopped releasing inbound North Korean data amid troop deployment reports. Dr. Go, does this secrecy point to actual deployments, and what's the impact?

(BARRY) 10. Finally, in June, Pyongyang reportedly agreed to send 6,000 more military personnel to Russia by year's end.

Dr. Barry, when you combine this with other moves, what's the single biggest factor for the Peninsula's next six months?