Japanese authorities allowed the 19-year-old son of a Japanese Red Army member who is believed to be living in Lebanon to visit the Middle East country in early August, police sources revealed recently.

The decision could mean the government will change its stance on 20 children of Red Army Faction radicals who are living in North Korea, their supporters said.

The government has so far maintained that if they travel to Japan, they will not be allowed to return to North Korea.