Stockholm - North Korea must give up its controversial nuclear programme, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said Monday after talks with Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt.

Lee said he supported sanctions adopted by the United Nations Security Council after North Korea on May 25 conducted an underground test of a nuclear device, which raised tensions in the region.

"It is not for sanctions sake, but it is a way for us to convince North Korea and to encourage them to come back to the negotiating table, that is our objective, " the South Korean leader said.

"North Korea must give up its nuclear weapons programme and ambitions," Lee said. "For them to give up their nuclear weapons programme is the surest way for them to ensure prosperity," adding it was "going to be hard and be a challenge."

Lee thanked the European Union among others for their support in engaging in efforts to persuade North Korea to drop the programme.

Reinfeldt said he and Lee had discussed the "worrying security situation" on the Korean peninsula.

Sweden on July 1 took over the rotating presidency of the 27- nation EU, and Reinfeldt said Sweden would try to help revive the six-party talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear weapons programme.

Sweden has diplomatic ties with both South and North Korea. This year is the 50th year Sweden and South Korea established diplomatic ties. (dpa)