1. For the first time in 5 years, South Korea and the U.S. will hold a large-scale combined field training exercise called ‘Eulji Freedom Shield’ for 11 days from March 13th to the 23rd to reinforce allied defense and response capabilities.

2. China’s parliament, the National People’s Congress, begins its annual Two Sessions this weekend, months after President Xi Jinping secured his third term as the nation’s supreme leader.

3. According to Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong on Friday, authorities will be taking into consideration the COVID-19 situation as well as medical response capabilities before deciding on whether to downgrade COVID-19 to the category of a common infectious disease.