1. The Bank of Korea raised its benchmark interest rates to 1.5% on Thursday, the highest level in about three years to control increasing inflation pressures, as consumer prices jumped over 4% last month.

2. North Korean media outlets announced on Thursday that Kim Jong-un promoted a number of military officials a day before the 110th anniversary of the late Kim Il-sung’s birthday, in an effort for unity.

3. The number of new daily COVID-19 cases in South Korea tallied 148-thousand 4-hundred-43 on Thursday. The number of critically ill patients stands at 9-hundred-62, below 1-thousand in 38 days.