Republic of Korea President Park Geun-hye said during her US visit that she looks forward to having "very candid discussions" with President Xi Jinping about the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, its nuclear weapons, and regional peace and stability.

Republic of Korea President Park Geun-hye

In an interview with The Washington Post published on Wednesday, Park said she also hopes to be able to talk to Xi about the future of the DPRK if it decides against taking the "right path" toward becoming "a responsible member of the international community".

"In order for the DPRK to change, and in order for the Korean Peninsula to enjoy greater peace, the DPRK needs to choose the right path, and China should exert greater influence on inducing the DPRK to do so," said Park, who took office on Feb 25, less than three weeks before Xi became president.

Park said she believes China's "growth and development through reform and opening" offers a "very good model" for the DPRK to follow.

Beijing has tried for years to persuade the DPRK to pursue the policies of opening-up and economic reform that have made China the world's second-largest economy.

Park, the first female president of the ROK, is expected to travel to China soon. The 61-year-old leader has visited China several times before, including as chairwoman of the conservative Saenuri, or New Frontier Party, formerly the Grand National Party. Those trips included a meeting in 2008 with former president Hu Jintao and a 2006 address to China's Central Party School on the success of ROK rural reforms. Those 1970s initiatives, known as the New Village Movement, were launched by Park's father, Park Chung-hee, during his 18 years as leader of the ROK.