A group of North Korean intelligence agents suspected of having kidnapped a South Korean minister in 2000 was allegedly involved in the abduction of kidnapped 15 other people.

A high-ranking government official said on Wednesday that the Northern agents, including an ethnic Korean in China only identified by his first name Ryu, had abducted 15 others between 1999 and 2001.

The official said although Ryu has testified that there are 15 additional abductees besides the kidnapped minister, Reverend Kim Dong-shik, the exact number has yet to be confirmed.