Japan’s State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Takeaki Matsumoto says there are more than 100 North Korean escapees in Japan.

Matsumoto made the assessment on Thursday in response to a question posed by Democratic Party of Japan legislator Yosihu Arita during a meeting of a special House of Councillors committee on Japanese abductees.

Arita said a dozen North Korean escapees are under the protection of Japan’s diplomatic mission in China. He said there are reports that some of the escapees have been unable to leave China for nearly two years and urged the Japanese government to promptly address the matter.

In response, Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara said Tokyo will seek the early departure of the escapees in line with the interests of related countries.