The leader of South Korea’s main opposition party called for renewed dialogue with North Korea on Monday, while emphasizing the need to maintain strong military readiness amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party (DP), said during a speech at the National Assembly’s plenary session that inter-Korean relations could shift “from confrontation to dialogue and cooperation” if talks between North Korea and the U.S. make progress.

He warned that North Korea’s growing ties with Russia, coupled with Seoul’s confrontational approach, have intensified instability on the Korean Peninsula.

“The breakdown of inter-Korean relations due