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| Australian Student Is Released From Detention in North Korea | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| An Australian man studying at a North Korean university who went missing last week has been freed from detention by the North, Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia said on Thursday. | An Australian man studying at a North Korean university who went missing last week has been freed from detention by the North, Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia said on Thursday. |
| The student, Alek Sigley, 29, was pursuing a master’s degree in Korean literature at Kim Il-sung University in Pyongyang, the North’s capital. He had lost contact with his family and others early last week, prompting fears that he had been taken into custody. | The student, Alek Sigley, 29, was pursuing a master’s degree in Korean literature at Kim Il-sung University in Pyongyang, the North’s capital. He had lost contact with his family and others early last week, prompting fears that he had been taken into custody. |
| Mr. Morrison, addressing Parliament on Thursday, confirmed that Mr. Sigley had been detained. He said that Swedish officials who were visiting North Korea had raised the issue of Mr. Sigley’s disappearance on Wednesday on Australia’s behalf. Mr. Sigley was then released Thursday morning and left the North, the prime minister said. | Mr. Morrison, addressing Parliament on Thursday, confirmed that Mr. Sigley had been detained. He said that Swedish officials who were visiting North Korea had raised the issue of Mr. Sigley’s disappearance on Wednesday on Australia’s behalf. Mr. Sigley was then released Thursday morning and left the North, the prime minister said. |
| “Alek is safe and well,” Mr. Morrison said in announcing his release. | “Alek is safe and well,” Mr. Morrison said in announcing his release. |
| He added: “This outcome demonstrates the value of discreet behind-the-scenes work of officials in resolving complex and sensitive consulate cases in close partnership with other governments. I’m sure we all could not be more pleased that we not only know where Alek is but that we know he is safe.” | He added: “This outcome demonstrates the value of discreet behind-the-scenes work of officials in resolving complex and sensitive consulate cases in close partnership with other governments. I’m sure we all could not be more pleased that we not only know where Alek is but that we know he is safe.” |
| Mr. Morrison did not say why North Korea had detained Mr. Sigley, or where he went after leaving the North. | Mr. Morrison did not say why North Korea had detained Mr. Sigley, or where he went after leaving the North. |
| In the days since Mr. Sigley went silent on social media, North Korea offered no public hint as to what had happened to him. | In the days since Mr. Sigley went silent on social media, North Korea offered no public hint as to what had happened to him. |
| His family said in a statement last Thursday that it was working with Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to seek information about his whereabouts and welfare. | His family said in a statement last Thursday that it was working with Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to seek information about his whereabouts and welfare. |
| In its statement, his family called him a “scholar and traveler” who has “visited, studied and lived in several countries in Asia” and is fluent in Mandarin and Korean. | In its statement, his family called him a “scholar and traveler” who has “visited, studied and lived in several countries in Asia” and is fluent in Mandarin and Korean. |
| Mr. Sigley posted frequently on social media, offering a revealing look at his life inside the reclusive North, posting images of things like food, restaurants and shops. | Mr. Sigley posted frequently on social media, offering a revealing look at his life inside the reclusive North, posting images of things like food, restaurants and shops. |