Washington has said the treatment of Glavprodukt, the only U.S. company Moscow has seized, will influence a planned reset of U.S.-Russia relations.

South Korean authorities have detained six United States citizens who were attempting to send an estimated 1,300 plastic bottles filled with rice, US dollar bills and Bibles to North Korea by sea, according to news reports.

Trump’s tariff hikes and other “America First” policies are major challenges for Lee’s month-old government, as are North Korea’s expanding nuclear program and domestic economic woes.

Lee has ordered a halt to the military's propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts along the border and called on civic groups to suspend their distribution of anti-Pyongyang leaflets, expressing hope that the reconciliatory gestures could pave the way for resuming dialogue with the North.

President Lee Jae Myung on July 3 explained his stance on policy toward North Korea, saying, "Based on the basic foundation of our alliance with the U.S. and our trilateral cooperation with the U.S. and Japan,

Russia is planning to ramp up exports from a confiscated American-owned canned food company, looking to offset falling domestic sales by targeting new markets in China and North Korea, Reuters reported on July 10.

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is taking a "prudent" and "strategic" approach to addressing North Korean challenges, a U.S. diplomat said Friday, reiterating its stated commitment to the "complete denuclearization" of North Korea.

As Washington announces 25% reciprocal tariffs on its two Asian allies, analysts say Beijing has an opportunity with Tokyo and Seoul.