This is exercise $VI.6.2$ in Kassel's Quantum Groups. My observations are the following:
If $V(\lambda)$ is not simple, then there is a surjective module homomorphism $\psi:V(L)\rightarrow V$ to some $U_q$-module such that $V(L)/\ker\psi \cong V$. Since $\psi$ is onto, there exists some $v\in V$ s.t. $\psi(v_0)=v$. We then have $$Kv = K\psi(v_0) = \psi(Kv_0)=\lambda v$$ and $$Ev = E \psi(v_0) = 0.$$ Therefore $v$ is a highest weight vector with weight $\lambda$.
If we could show that $\dim V<\infty$, we would be done by theorem $VI.3.5$, but maybe this is not the right approach at all.
I would be glad if you could give me some hints (no full answers if possible) for this!