Ambassador to China Hong Soon-young said Tuesday that North Korea will follow its own strategy for reform and openness, dismissing expectations that it will adopt a Chinese-style reform program.

In talks with reporters at the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in southern Seoul, Hong said the Pyongyang government will soon set the direction of its reform and openness program.

Hong is attending the annual meeting of heads of overseas diplomatic missions, which opened Monday for a three-day run at the KOICA training center.

He said China's support for Seoul's engagement policy toward Pyongyang is important, adding that exchanges of warships between Seoul and Beijing will be realized this year.