South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has warned of the risks of accidental clashes with North Korea, noting that Seoul must continue patient efforts to restore dialogue with Pyongyang in order to reduce those risks, Yonhap reports.

Lee assessed inter-Korean relations at a press conference on his way from Johannesburg to Ankara, which is part of his visit to four countries in Africa and the Middle East.

“Inter-Korean relations have become extremely hostile and confrontational, and North Korea is taking extreme steps without even having a minimal level of trust. We are in a very dangerous situation where accidental clashes can erupt at any moment,” Lee told reporters.

He again called for dialogue after Seoul proposed holding military talks to clarify the demarcation line and prevent unintended clashes at the border.

The proposal came amid incidents in which North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the demarcation line while clearing the area or laying landmines in the buffer zone.

Responding to a question on whether South Korea could consider cancelling joint exercises with the United States in order to bring Pyongyang to the negotiating table, Lee said it was too early to draw conclusions, calling the issue “the most sensitive” for North Korea. He added that although in the long term it would be desirable to have a stable peace in which large-scale military exercises would not be necessary, decisions on holding them must depend on changing circumstances.