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Alek Sigley, Australian Student, Is Freed From Detention in North Korea Alek Sigley, Australian Student, Is Freed From Detention in North Korea
(about 2 hours later)
SYDNEY, Australia — An Australian student at a North Korean university whose family recently lost contact with him was freed from detention on Thursday by the North after Swedish officials took up his plight with Kim Jong-un’s government. SYDNEY, Australia — An Australian student at a North Korean university whose family lost contact with him last week was freed from detention on Thursday by the North after Swedish officials took up his plight with Kim Jong-un’s government.
The disappearance of Alek Sigley, 29, who was pursuing a master’s degree in Korean literature at Kim Il-sung University in Pyongyang, had raised fears that he might be facing a long detention in North Korea’s notoriously harsh prison system. The disappearance of Alek Sigley, 29, who was pursuing a master’s degree in Korean literature at Kim Il-sung University in Pyongyang — as well as the subsequent silence from the North Korean government — had raised fears that he was being subjected to the North’s notoriously harsh prison system.
But on Thursday he emerged at Beijing’s international airport smiling and saying, “I’m O.K., I’m good,” while declining to address a reporter’s question about why he had been detained. But on Thursday, he emerged at Beijing’s international airport smiling and saying, “I’m O.K., I’m good,” while declining to address a reporter’s question about why he had been detained.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia first announced Mr. Sigley’s release during a session of Parliament. He credited the intervention of the Swedish officials, saying they had raised the issue of Mr. Sigley’s disappearance on Wednesday on Australia’s behalf. Mr. Sigley was then released Thursday morning, the prime minister said.Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia first announced Mr. Sigley’s release during a session of Parliament. He credited the intervention of the Swedish officials, saying they had raised the issue of Mr. Sigley’s disappearance on Wednesday on Australia’s behalf. Mr. Sigley was then released Thursday morning, the prime minister said.
“Alek is safe and well,” Mr. Morrison told Parliament. “Alek is safe and well,” Mr. Morrison told Parliament, before adding: “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. Sigley was a rare Westerner who embraced life in North Korea, offering a revealing look at his life inside the reclusive North in frequent posts on social media that included images of local cuisine, restaurants and shops.Mr. Sigley was a rare Westerner who embraced life in North Korea, offering a revealing look at his life inside the reclusive North in frequent posts on social media that included images of local cuisine, restaurants and shops.
He described himself as the son of an “Anglo-Aussie Sinologist” and a Shanghainese mother, and said that his fascination with North Korea began after he befriended students from the North while at college in Shanghai.He described himself as the son of an “Anglo-Aussie Sinologist” and a Shanghainese mother, and said that his fascination with North Korea began after he befriended students from the North while at college in Shanghai.
He wrote that he was careful not to comment on politics, but he did recount what it was like to be in Pyongyang during President Trump’s summit with Kim Jong-un in Singapore in June last year.He wrote that he was careful not to comment on politics, but he did recount what it was like to be in Pyongyang during President Trump’s summit with Kim Jong-un in Singapore in June last year.
His disappearance raised fears that he could suffer an ordeal similar to that of Otto F. Warmbier, an American who was imprisoned in North Korea on charges related to trying to take down a propaganda poster, fell into a coma during his detention and died after being returned to the United States.His disappearance raised fears that he could suffer an ordeal similar to that of Otto F. Warmbier, an American who was imprisoned in North Korea on charges related to trying to take down a propaganda poster, fell into a coma during his detention and died after being returned to the United States.
Western visitors to North Korea are extremely few, and some have been arrested for seemingly minor infractions and given draconian sentences.Western visitors to North Korea are extremely few, and some have been arrested for seemingly minor infractions and given draconian sentences.
In posts on his Facebook page, Mr. Sigley had published photos of an event that the Swedish Embassy had hosted for foreign students.In posts on his Facebook page, Mr. Sigley had published photos of an event that the Swedish Embassy had hosted for foreign students.
Sweden has played a unique diplomatic role in North Korea since it became the first Western European nation to establish diplomatic relations with Pyongyang, setting up an embassy in the capital in 1975.Sweden has played a unique diplomatic role in North Korea since it became the first Western European nation to establish diplomatic relations with Pyongyang, setting up an embassy in the capital in 1975.
As a member of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission, set up to oversee the armistice that ended combat in the Korean War, Sweden hosts and sponsors talks and distributes aid through the United Nations and the Red Cross. Its diplomats have worked on behalf of other nations to free detained citizens, including Mr. Warmbier.As a member of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission, set up to oversee the armistice that ended combat in the Korean War, Sweden hosts and sponsors talks and distributes aid through the United Nations and the Red Cross. Its diplomats have worked on behalf of other nations to free detained citizens, including Mr. Warmbier.
In the days since Mr. Sigley went silent on social media early last week, North Korea had offered no public hint about his fate.In the days since Mr. Sigley went silent on social media early last week, North Korea had offered no public hint about his fate.
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.