Australia and South Korea sign defense deal as leaders meet

CANBERRA – Australia and South Korea signed a $680 cardinal defence woody Monday arsenic South Korean President Moon Jae-in became the archetypal overseas person to sojourn Australia since the pandemic began.

Worth astir 1 cardinal Australian dollars, the woody volition spot South Korean defence institution Hanwha supply the Australian service with artillery weapons, proviso vehicles and radars.

It's the largest defence declaration struck betwixt Australia and an Asian nation, and comes astatine a clip of heightened tensions betwixt Australia and China. Australia precocious announced a woody to physique nuclear-powered submarines successful a concern with the U.S. and Britain — a determination that China has powerfully condemned.

Moon met with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison during his visit, and the 2 leaders agreed to upgrade the ceremonial ties betwixt their nations to a “comprehensive strategical partnership."

The leaders besides said they would enactment unneurotic connected processing cleanable vigor technologies, including hydrogen, and connected facilitating the proviso of captious minerals, which Australia has successful abundance.

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Morrison said the caller defence declaration would make astir 300 jobs successful Australia, wherever a part of Hanwha operates.

“The declaration that we person signed today, I think, speaks volumes astir what we judge are the capabilities of the Korean defence industry," Morrison said.

Moon said South Korea had akin values to Australia erstwhile it came to its geopolitical outlook, but besides that its narration with China was important, peculiarly erstwhile it came to pursuing bid with North Korea.

“Therefore, South Korea is focused connected the steadfast confederation with the U.S. and besides with China," Moon said. “We privation a harmonized relationship.”

Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton said his authorities was committed to keeping the portion harmless and the caller declaration would assistance modernize the Australian army.

“The premier quality of the caller vehicles is to occurrence and determination quickly, avoiding force counterattack,” Dutton said. “This task volition mean a important summation successful the level of firepower and information for Australian artillery capability.”

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South Korea is Australia’s fourth-largest trading spouse and fourth-largest export marketplace nether a escaped commercialized statement that has been successful unit since 2014. This twelvemonth marks the 60th day of diplomatic ties betwixt the 2 countries.

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