N.Korean jet bomber in Japan

TOKYO: A former North Korean spy responsible for the 1987 bombing of a Korean Air jetliner flew to Japan Tuesday to meet the families of Japanese abducted by North Korean agents.

Kim Hyon Hui, who arrived on a government-chartered flight from South Korea, where she lives, will meet relatives of Megumi Yokota and Yaeko Taguchi, the Kyodo news agency said, quoting government sources.

Kim, 48, arrived in Haneda airport around 4:00 am (1900 GMT) on a small plane, television footage showed.

Around an hour later, Kim emerged from the plane and was quickly ushered to a vehicle while guards covered her with large umbrellas.

She was then driven to the mountain resort of Karuizawa in central Nagano prefecture and was taken to a summerhouse owned by former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, TV news footage showed.

Kim”s itinerary and activities in Japan have been kept secret due to security concerns, but she is expected to meet the families of Japanese kidnapping victims.