North Korea sharply criticized the US-led QUAD alliance on July 5, 2025, accusing Washington and its allies of attempting to alter the Korean Peninsula’s reality and undermine Pyongyang’s stance on nuclear disarmament.
A statement from North Korea’s Foreign Ministry declared such efforts “unacceptable,” escalating tensions amid ongoing US allegations of cyberattacks.
Last month, the US Justice Department charged multiple North Korean IT workers for allegedly infiltrating global companies online to steal data and funds, claims Pyongyang dismissed as fabricated.
In a separate geopolitical flashpoint, China issued a stern warning to India over the Dalai Lama’s succession intensifying bilateral strains. Beijing reacted angrily to Indian Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju’s statement that the Dalai Lama alone would determine his successor.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maoning, called the Dalai Lama a “separatist” and insisted his successor must follow China’s laws, historical customs, and government approval, rooted in Tibetan Buddhist reincarnation traditions. Beijing claimed 14th Dalai Lama’s selection adhered to this process.
Dalai Lama living in India since 1959 recently announced his successor would be chosen by Gaden Phodrang Trust his personal office. Rijiju’s remarks, asserting no external interference in the decision, provoked China’s warning to New Delhi to cease meddling in Tibetan affairs, threatening harm to bilateral ties.
India has sought to mend relations with China after years of border tensions, with steps like restarting Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage and a Modi-Xi meeting at BRICS summit in Kazan. However, experts warn India’s stance on Dalai Lama risks derailing these efforts creating fresh diplomatic challenges.
