South Korean defense minister Shin Won-shik and his Australian counterpart, Richard Marles, visited a Hanwha Defense production facility in Geelong, Victoria, on Tuesday, underscoring their commitment to expanding defense cooperation between the two nations. The facility, slated for completion later this year, will produce ROK-designed K9 Self-Propelled Howitzers (AS-9), ammunition resupply vehicles (AS-10), and Redback armored vehicles, all tailored to Australian specifications. During the visit, Shin emphasized the strategic benefits of such cooperation, including enhanced interoperability of weapon systems and strengthened military capabilities for both countries.

The visit occurred alongside the Australia-ROK 2+2 foreign and defense ministerial meetings scheduled for Wednesday in Melbourne. These meetings come at a time when South Korea lacks an ambassador in Australia, following the resignation of the former ambassador, Lee Jong-sup — a previous defense minister accused of improperly influencing a probe into the death of a marine during floods last year. The charge d'affaires at the ROK embassy in Australia will attend some of this week's ministerial meetings in his stead, according to the South Korean foreign ministry.