Korea leader locked in, Japan PM on the cards

South Korean President Moon Jae-in will make an official visit to Australia next week in a major boost for bilateral ties.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Picture: AFP

South Korean President Moon Jae-in will make an official visit to Australia next week in a major boost for bilateral ties.

As foreshadowed by The Australian last month, Mr Moon and Scott Morrison will use the visit – marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the countries – to formally elevate the relationship between the countries to a “comprehensive strategic partnership”. The December 12-15 visit comes as Australian and Japanese officials discuss a potential visit to Australia by Japan’s new Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, as early as January. Mr Kishida took office in October, and his Liberal Democratic Party subsequently won a national election, suffering only minor losses.

Such an early visit to Australia by the Japanese leader would underline the priority Tokyo places on its Australian relationship.

While Australia’s relationship with Japan is historically close, the Morrison government has also been keen to strengthen ties with South Korea – the nation’s fourth-largest trading partner.

The Prime Minister said he looked forward to welcoming Mr Moon and his wife Kim Jung-sook to Australia on Sunday.

“The Republic of Korea is one of our closest partners in the ­region, and 2021 marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our countries,” Mr Morrison said. “Our bilateral relationship continues to grow, underpinned by trade, shared values, common regional strategic interests and a commitment to an open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-­Pacific region.”

He said the new comprehensive strategic partnership, to be signed by the leaders during the visit, reflected “the depth and breadth of our co-operation and people-to-people links, and common aspirations to work even more closely together”.

The visit will give a leg-up to Korean defence company ­Hanwha as it vies for a $30bn contract to build infantry fighting ­vehicles for the Australian Army.

It will also send a strong message to China that its efforts to isolate Australia from regional partners have been unsuccessful.

Australia exported $25.2bn worth of goods and services to South Korea in 2020, including more than $18bn worth of iron ore, coal, natural gas and beef.

The visit, which had been threatened by the emergence of the Covid Omicron variant, has been approved by ACT and NSW health authorities, and will take place under strict conditions, ­including regular Covid testing and mask wearing.

The visit comes ahead of the conclusion of Mr Moon’s five-year term in March, giving him ­ diplomatic room to bolster his country’s relationship with Australia without causing long-term problems with China.

Hanwha was confirmed last year as the preferred contractor to build 30 self-propelled howitzers and 15 ammunition resupply vehicles in Geelong under a $1.3bn contract. Hanwha has been the underdog to clinch the much bigger ­infantry fighting vehicle contract, behind German company Rheinmetall, which is already building Boxer reconnaissance ­vehicles at Ipswich in Queensland.

But Australia’s need to boost defence ties with South Korea and Mr Moon’s visit suggests the ­Korean vehicle could become the frontrunner for the new ­contract.

A visit by Mr Kishida early next year would help finalise a long-awaited defence reciprocal access agreement between the countries, providing for joint military training and joint operations between the Australian and Japanese ­defence forces. Mr Kishida is known as a national security hawk who has promised to substantially increase Japan’s defence budget. It is believed both nations see scope for greater Japanese involvement in Australia’s defence industry.