North Korea will reportedly send to Seoul the family members of 13 North Koreans who recently defected to the South.

The North’s official Korean Central News Agency said Friday that the North Korean Red Cross Chairman Ri Chung-bok sent a notice of the decision to South Korean Red Cross President Kim Sung-joo.

Ri was reported to have said the North will send the relatives to Seoul via the truce village of Panmunjeom located on the inter-Korean border, adding the measure is being taken at the ardent request of the families.

Ri also said the South will have to take necessary measures in order for the families to meet the North Korean defectors face-to-face.

The 13 North Koreans defected to the South early this month while working at a Pyongyang-owned restaurant in China. North Korea accuses Seoul of abducting the group while South Korea insists they came voluntarily.