SEOUL- Republic of Korea's 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).

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"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.