Alek Sigley latest: Australian student released and 'safe' after detention in North Korea

An Australian student who was detained in North Korea under mysterious circumstances is "released and safe", Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced.

Alek Sigley, 29, who was pursuing a master's degree at Kim Il Sung University in Pyongyang was reported missing after he was not seen or heard from by loved ones for more than 48 hours.

It has since emerged he was detained by North Korean officials around June 24, although it is not yet known why.

Mr Morrison confirmed on Thursday morning that the 29-year had been released thanks to “discreet, behind the scenes work of officials in resolving complex and sensitive consular cases".

The Australian student who vanished in North Korea more than a week ago arrived in Beijing on Thursday morning.
AP

Addressing the Australian parliament he said: "We are pleased to announce that Mr Alek Sigley has today been released from detention in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

“He is safe and well.”

Australia does not have its own embassy in the North Korean capital, so Swedish authorities met with senior officials from the DPRK on Wednesday “on Australia’s behalf”, he said.

"I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the Swedish authorities for their invaluable assistance," he added, saying they had "raised the issue of Alek's disappearance”.

Scott Morrison announced the release of missing Australian student Alek Sigley from detention in North Korea during question time.
Getty Images

It comes after a meeting between officials from the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang and the North Korean government.

Mr Sigley, a fluent Korean speaker, was running a tourism business in Pyongyang alongside his studies.

His release was first reported by specialist website NK News which said he was safely in China and would travel on to Japan.

"I'm ok, yeah, I'm good, I'm very good," Mr Sigley is seen saying on footage showing his arrival in Beijing, according to Australian media.

Mr Sigley was reported missing after the prolific social media stopped posting about his North Korean adventures.
REUTERS

Originally from Perth, the 29-year old spent the past year studying Korean literature at Kim Il-sung University.

He also ran a business providing tours for Western tourists visiting the totalitarian, communist state.

In March, he described himself as "the only Australian living in North Korea" in a piece published by The Guardian.

Last week, his family and friends lost contact with him, sparking fears he might have been detained.

Several foreigners have previously been detained in North Korea, sometimes for illegally entering the country or for what Pyongyang terms "hostile criminal acts against the state".

US student Otto Warmbier was jailed in North Korea in 2016 after being accused of stealing a propaganda sign during an organised tour.

He spent 17 months in detention, and later died days after he was returned to the US in a coma.

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