South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Wednesday hinted at a more flexible stance on resuming stalled nuclear disarmament talks involving the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

"We can only resolve the issue of ending North Korea (DPRK)'s nuclear program diplomatically through the six-party talks," Lee said in a meeting with the foreign ministry at his office Cheong Wa Dae, referring to the long-stalled talks aimed at denuclearizing the DPRK.

"As the North aims to become a strong and prosperous nation by 2012, I believe we must achieve (the goal of) dismantling its nuclear program next year through the six-party talks,"the president said.

His remarks signal an apparent about-face in his previous opposition to the imminent resumption of the six-way forum which Pyongyang once declared dead. The last round of talks were held in December 2008.

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