President Park Geun-hye expressed her hopes that North Korea will change for the better, referring to Kazakhstan’s voluntary decision to give up nuclear arms.

Park made the comments in a meeting with ambassadors from eight countries in Asia, including Kazakhstan, after hearing Kazakhstan’s ambassador to Seoul, Dulat Bakishev, explain how the country gave up its nuclear program and made economic progress.

Park thanked the countries for participating in a statement denouncing North Korea’s third nuclear test and supporting South Korea’s policies on North Korea. The president said there was a need for the international society, in one voice, to urge North Korea to go in the right direction.

Park also said the roles of the ambassadors from central Asia were important, as they served as a bridge between the rest of Asia and Europe. She requested they keep maintaining close ties.