South Korea’s leading conservative presidential candidate suggested on Sunday that North Korea may take advantage of the U.S. focus on Ukraine to conduct “strategic provocations.”

Yoon Suk-yeol’s remarks were the first time that a leading presidential candidate in the upcoming March 9 election attempted to link North Korea with the crisis in Eastern Europe.

“Above all, while the U.S. is focusing on Europe, there is a possibility that North Korea will conduct strategic provovations such as ballistic missile tests, as well as local provocations near the border,” Yoon wrote on his Facebook page.

“In case of an emergency, Seoul should