North Korea Missile Tempo: Pyongyang fired another ballistic missile toward the sea off the Korean Peninsula, with Japan and South Korea tracking it as the US-South Korea drills approach. Regional Deterrence & Readiness: Seoul said it boosted surveillance and is sharing data with Washington and Tokyo ahead of the Aug. 17-27 “Ulchi Freedom Shield” exercise. Ukraine Strike Cycle: Russia hit Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia with missiles and drones, while Ukraine reported drone and missile pressure and said North Korean ballistic missiles were used in the Zaporizhzhia attack. Air-Defense Pressure: A US expert warned Pacific bases are “highly vulnerable” to Chinese and North Korean missile and drone threats, echoing concerns about interceptor shortages. Missile Shield Testing: At the Space & Missile Defense Symposium, US officials said Golden Dome has completed two secret tests and targets operational capability by 2028. Defense Industry Moves: Elbit Systems reported a record $32B backlog on strong drone, munitions, and C4I demand. Procurement & Prototyping: The US Army awarded six vendors prototype contracts for its Infantry Last Tactical Mile autonomous resupply and casevac push. Maritime Enforcement: US forces fired Hellfire missiles at a Panama-flagged vessel in the Gulf of Oman after it ignored warnings tied to Iran blockade enforcement. Policy & Control: Iraq’s PM ordered draft legislation to place all weapons under exclusive state control. Drone Regulation: Kuwait approved a draft law to regulate unmanned aircraft and light aircraft operations.