President Park Geun-hye said Wednesday that Mongolia's successful transition to democracy is a good role model for the international community.

Mongolia's case "could help contribute to spreading democracy and establishing peace in Northeast Asia," Park said in a video message at a ceremony in Ulaanbaatar to mark the 25th anniversary of Mongolia's first free elections after decades of socialism.

Mongolia has become one of the most vibrant democracies in the word after its political transition without bloodshed.

Park did not elaborate, though she has urged North Korea to heed a former Mongolian leader's call for it to embrace change.

Punsalmaagiin Ochirbat, who led Mongolia from 1990 to 1997, said in February that security comes from a fat wallet, not nuclear programs, and that North Korea should choose the path of reform and openness if it wants to feed its people.

Park said Mongolia, Vietnam and Myanmar are on track for development and growth after opting to follow this path.

South Korea has pressed North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program and move forward as a responsible member of the international community.

On Tuesday, North Korea said it is not interested in reopening talks with the United States to first unilaterally freeze or dismantle its nuclear program.

The comment by North Korea's top envoy to China, Ji Jae-ryong, dashed hopes that Pyongyang may follow the path of Iran in dealing with its nuclear ambitions.

The U.S., five world powers and Iran reached a landmark deal earlier this month that will curb Iran's nuclear capabilities in return for lifting sanctions. North Korea has already said it is not interested in Iran-style nuclear talks.

Ji said North Korea's situation is different from that of Iran, claiming that North Korea is a nuclear weapons state and has interests as a nuclear weapons state. (Yonhap)