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| Australian student arrested in North Korea, reports say | Australian student arrested in North Korea, reports say |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Australia says it is urgently seeking clarification of reports an Australian man has been detained in North Korea. | Australia says it is urgently seeking clarification of reports an Australian man has been detained in North Korea. |
| Australian and South Korea media have identified him as Alek Sigley, a 29-year-old student living in Pyongyang. | Australian and South Korea media have identified him as Alek Sigley, a 29-year-old student living in Pyongyang. |
| Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has not identified the man due to its privacy obligations. | Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has not identified the man due to its privacy obligations. |
| It said it was providing consular assistance to "the family of an Australian man who has been reported as being detained in North Korea". | It said it was providing consular assistance to "the family of an Australian man who has been reported as being detained in North Korea". |
| "The department is urgently seeking clarification," it added in its statement on Thursday. | "The department is urgently seeking clarification," it added in its statement on Thursday. |
| It is not known why the man may have been detained. | It is not known why the man may have been detained. |
| Mr Sigley is pursuing a master's degree in Korean literature at Kim Il-sung University in the North Korean capital. He also runs tours for foreigners visiting the country. | |
| He describes himself as "the only Australian living in North Korea" in a firsthand account about his life, published by The Guardian in March. | He describes himself as "the only Australian living in North Korea" in a firsthand account about his life, published by The Guardian in March. |
| "As a long-term foreign resident on a student visa, I have nearly unprecedented access to Pyongyang," he wrote. | "As a long-term foreign resident on a student visa, I have nearly unprecedented access to Pyongyang," he wrote. |
| "I'm free to wander around the city, without anyone accompanying me." | "I'm free to wander around the city, without anyone accompanying me." |
| His friends reported him missing earlier this week, the Australian Broadcasting Corp said. | His friends reported him missing earlier this week, the Australian Broadcasting Corp said. |
| Australia does not have an embassy in North Korea, and has limited diplomatic access through the Swedish embassy. | Australia does not have an embassy in North Korea, and has limited diplomatic access through the Swedish embassy. |