South Korean President Park Geun-hye has called on Europe to engage with North Korea to prod Pyongyang to improve its human rights record, a news report said, as she prepares for a visit to Italy for a biennial summit of dozens of Asian and European leaders.

“It is necessary to continue ‘critical engagement’ to urge the North to change its course and to make ceaseless efforts to improve human rights in the North,” Park said in an interview published by Europolitics, a European affairs daily.

Park’s comments came ahead of her visit to Italy next week for a two-day Asia-Europe Meeting, known as ASEM, and a separate summit with the Italian prime minister.

Last month, Park called on North Korea to improve its human rights conditions in her address to the U.N. General Assembly, in the clearest sign that North Korea’s human rights issue is her top priority in dealing with the communist country.

The Asia-Europe Meeting is set to begin in Milan on Oct. 16, bringing together heads of state from 49 countries on the two continents.

The leaders are expected to consult on major international issues and other issues of mutual concern, Park’s office said Wednesday.

The summit comes amid growing concerns over Islamic State militants in the Middle East and the deadly Ebola virus in Africa.

Park’s office said her trip will expand South Korea’s role in the international community and strengthen ties with Asia and Europe.

Her trip will also take her to Rome for talks with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi to discuss ways to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries, Park’s office said.

Park also plans to pay a courtesy call on Pope Francis, according to her office. The planned meeting comes two months after Francis visited South Korea on the first papal trip to the Asian country in 25 years.

North Korea has long been accused of grave human rights abuses, ranging from holding hundreds of thousands of political prisoners in concentration camps to committing torture and carrying out public executions.

Still, the North has flatly denied accusations of its alleged rights abuses, describing them as a U.S.-led attempt to topple its regime. It has claimed it has the world’s most advantageous human rights conditions and policies. (Yonhap)