Canada's Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) has accused China of engaging in "coordinated and malicious activity" aimed at influencing the country's upcoming Liberal Party leadership race. The activity, allegedly originating from a WeChat account linked to the Chinese government, targeted Chrystia Freeland, a leading candidate to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The RRM identified over 30 WeChat accounts involved in the campaign, which received high engagement and views. China's embassy in Ottawa has not yet responded to the allegations, but Beijing has consistently denied interfering in Canadian affairs.
Meanwhile, North Korea has reiterated its stance on its nuclear weapons, stating they are not a bargaining chip for negotiations but a force for deterring threats. The statement comes in response to US President Donald Trump's call for the complete denuclearization of North Korea. Pyongyang also criticized the involvement of NATO and European countries in military exercises around the Korean peninsula, accusing them of seeking confrontation and disarmament for political and military gains. North Korea has recommended that the United Nations recognize the destabilizing forces at play in the world before criticizing sovereign nations' self-defense measures.