North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un is making a concerted effort to exert control over his foreign ambassadors following a handful of public defections by officials.

The country’s media mouthpiece Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim held an official meeting to discuss grievances with those in his administration.

“He (Kim) expressed the belief that the participants in the meeting and officials in the field of external affairs would thoroughly implement the foreign policy of the WPK (Worker’s Party of Korea) and make positive contributions to creating external circumstances favorable for building a thriving nation,” the KCNA said.

It is not known whether the foreign ambassadors have taken his sentiments at face value due to the high number of officials who have been purged or executed since Kim came into power back in 2011.

Kim’s uncle, Kim Yong-pyil, who is also the foreign ambassador to the Czech Republic attended the meeting.

Kim Jong-un has allegedly executed over 70 officials in just the few years he has been in power according to South Korean spy agencies, which is significantly more than his two predecessors had committed during their terms.