WASHINGTON -- Opposition leader Hong Jun-pyo has warned that "pro-North Korean, leftist" elements in the Seoul government is driving a wedge in the South Korea-US alliance and worsening the security crisis on the peninsula.

The leader of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party made the remarks Wednesday during a conference with US experts hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington. Hong is on a five-day visit this week.

"In the wake of the impeachment early this year, a far different government took office. Those who urged the withdrawal of US Forces Korea and opposed the deployment of the THAAD now form the mainstream of the Korean government." the conservative politician said.

"The essence of the current crisis is that the pro-North Korean, leftist forces cause fissures in the Korea-US alliance and it is scarier than North Korea's threat," he said.

Hong also called for Washington to redeploy tactical nuclear weapons to the peninsula and accelerate the installation of the US missile defense system in the country.

He said he would urge the Korean government to join the US-led missile defense system and campaign against Seoul's attempt to take over the wartime operational control of its troops from the US early, saying the nation is not ready yet in terms of independent defense capabilities. (Yonhap)