A government official says the family reunion of a South Korean whom North Korea is believed to have kidnapped will lead to the resolution of Pyongyang's past abductions.

The official said in an unofficial news briefing Friday that the government is "paying attention" to Kim Young-nam's denial Thursday that he was abducted by North Korea in 1978.

He said Seoul will try to resolve the abductions as Kim is one of almost 500 South Koreans who are believed to have been kidnapped by the North.

On the fate of Kim's ex-wife Megumi Yokota, a Japanese national whom the North also abducted in 1977, the official said Seoul will share data but not consult with Tokyo on the matter.

Seoul could also allow Kim's elderly mother and sister to visit Pyongyang at his invitation for citing humanitarian considerations.