Prime Minister Han Seung-soo says the South Korean government is ready to allow former North Korean agent Kim Hyun-hee, who currently resides in the South, to meet the family of a Japanese national abducted by the North.

Kim was partially responsible for the bombing of a Korean Air flight in 1987 and was permitted to stay in the South after being arrested and tried.

The family of the abducted Japanese woman, Yaeko Taguchi, has asked for a meeting with the former North Korean agent.

Taguchi is said to have taught Japanese to Kim in North Korea after being kidnapped.

Han told Japan’s Kyodo News that all people living in the South are free to travel and meet whomever they want.

The Japanese government reportedly asked Seoul to facilitate the meeting between the Taguchis and Kim.