Former President Kim Dae-jung has hinted that he may visit North Korea to help break the deadlock in inter-Korean relations and six-party nuclear talks.

In an interview with local daily Kyunghyang Shinum, the former president said that even if he were to visit the North, it would be a low-key trip aimed at obliquely aiding the government's efforts at detente.

Asked if he's willing to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in his capacity as a private citizen, the former president did not give an explicit answer, saying that he has already retired from politics and that current leaders should play the leading role.

However, he did leave open the possibility of playing a diplomatic role by saying that he would like to do what he can from the sidelines to jumpstart stalled relations.

The ex-leader also stressed the need for President Roh Moo-hyun to pursue another inter-Korean summit, saying he had learned through his own experience how important face-to-face talks between supreme leaders are in inter-Korean relations.

Kim met the North Korean leader in an unprecedented inter-Korean summit back in June 2000, which led to a series of inter-Korean cooperation projects.