South Korea is making a beeline for Australia’s vast critical mineral deposits in a bid to reclaim the throne as the world’s biggest electric vehicle battery maker. With South Korean President Moon Jae-in becoming the first international leader to visit Australia since the reopening of its borders, the two nations have made significant bilateral strides—including a historic, billion-dollar defence contract for the Australian military. But South Korea has also made it clear that Australia will play a vital role in helping the Asian nation reach the top of the billion-dollar battery market after China stole the spot in 2021, with Australia already making up 40 percent of South Korea’s critical minerals imports. “Australia, the world’s richest country in mineral resources, and Korea, a major producer of batteries and electric vehicles, play an important role in the global supply chain,” Moon said on Dec. 13. According to South Korea-based market tracker …