South Korean lawmakers and officials raised concerns on Wednesday about the safety of the teenage daughter of a former senior North Korean diplomat in Italy after news reports that he has settled in South Korea while she was sent back to the North.

Italy warned on Wednesday there would be consequences to pay if there was any truth to reports that the daughter of a missing North Korean diplomat had been abducted from Rome and whisked to Pyongyang.

A high-ranking North Korean diplomat defected several weeks ago in Italy, according to information gathered by the South Korean intelligence service.