Australia, SKorea join on defense

CANBERRA, Australia – Australia and South Korea signed a $720 million defense deal Monday as South Korean President Moon Jae-in became the first foreign leader to visit Australia since the pandemic began.

Worth about 1 billion Australian dollars, the deal will see South Korean defense company Hanwha provide the Australian army with artillery weapons, supply vehicles and radars.

It’s the largest defense contract between Australia and an Asian nation and comes at a time of heightened tensions between Australia and China.

Moon met with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and the two leaders agreed to upgrade the formal ties between their nations to a “comprehensive strategic partnership.”

The leaders also said they would work together on developing clean energy technologies, including hydrogen, and on facilitating the supply of critical minerals, which Australia has in abundance.

Morrison said the contract would create about 300 jobs in Australia, where a division of Hanwha operates.

“The contract that we have signed today, I think, speaks volumes about what we believe are the capabilities of the Korean defense industry,” Morrison said.

Moon said South Korea had similar values to Australia when it came to its geopolitical outlook, but its relationship with China was also important, particularly when it came to pursuing peace with North Korea.

“Therefore, South Korea is focused on the steadfast alliance with the U.S. and also with China,” Moon said. “We want a harmonized relationship.”