1. Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have agreed to boost bilateral ties in a show of unity. Xi’s visit to North Korea comes as Pyongyang pursues its nuclear development program. Observers expected Xi and Kim to discuss the situation on the Korean Peninsula and ties with the United States. However, an announcement from China’s foreign ministry on Monday made no mention of North Korea’s denuclearization or the US.
2. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, issued a new warning about North Korea’s nuclear program on Monday. He pointed to photographs recently released by Pyongyang, saying they may show a new enrichment facility at the Nyongbyon nuclear complex, which the UN nuclear watchdog has been monitoring.
3. Israel and Iran launched heavy attacks over the past two days. They halted them after US President Donald Trump told them to stop. However, Israeli forces continue to strike southern Lebanon, raising fears of further escalation. Al Jazeera reported Israeli forces struck a vehicle in the coastal city of Tyre on Monday, killing at least 5 people.
The Israeli military has warned people in parts of southern Lebanon to evacuate.