Australian student, 29, imprisoned in North Korea is found 800km away in CHINA - after mysteriously being released by Kim Jong-un's regime
- Alek Sigley has been found 'safe and sound' after he was detained in North Korea
- The 29-year-old last contacted his family on June 25, sparking fears he was jailed
- NK News reported Mr Sigley was in China and travelling to Tokyo on Thursday
- Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed Mr Sigley was released from detention
The missing Australian student feared imprisoned in North Korea has been found 'safe and sound' in China.
Alek Sigley, 29, last made contact with his family on June 25, sparking concerns he had been detained in the secretive nation's capital, Pyongyang.
North Korea-focused news site NK News first reported on Thursday the masters student from Perth was travelling to Tokyo, Japan.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday afternoon confirmed Mr Sigley had been released from detention.
At Australia's request, Swedish delegates met with North Korean officials on Wednesday to raise Mr Sigley's disappearance.
The Perth man was then released on Thursday morning and was snapped as he arrived at the airport in Beijing, China.
Missing student Alek Sigley (centre) has been found 'safe and sound' in China
The masters student smiled and gestured the peace sign as he was swarmed by journalists while walking through an airport terminal in Beijing
Mr Sigley pictured with his wife Yuka Morinaga, whom he married in Pyongyang in 2018. He is expected to reunite with her on Thursday evening
The masters student smiled and gestured the peace sign as he was swarmed by journalists while walking through the terminal.
'I'm OK, I'm OK, yeah. I'm good. I'm very good ... I'm great,' he told reporters.
When asked about his detention in Pyongyang Mr Sigley responded with an 'aah' and did not comment further.
Mr Sigley's Japanese wife Yuka Morinaga, whom he married in Pyongyang in 2018, is based in Tokyo.
The 29-year-old is expected to travel to the Japanese capital later on Thursday where he will be reunited with Yuka.
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Mr Morrison said Mr Sigley was on 'home soil' at the Australian Embassy in Beijing, ahead of his three-hour flight to Tokyo.
'Alek is safe and well,' Mr Morrison said during question time in federal Parliament.
'On behalf of the Australian government, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the Swedish authorities for their invaluable assistance in securing Alek's prompt release,' Mr Morrison said.
There is no embassy for Australians in North Korea and the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang can offer limited consular assistance to Australians.
Mr Sigley told reporters: 'I'm OK, I'm OK, yeah. I'm good. I'm very good ... I'm great'
North Korea-focused news site NK News first reported on Thursday the masters student from Perth was travelling to Tokyo, Japan
Mr Sigley was released from detention in North Korea on Thursday morning. He had not been heard from since June 25, sparking fears he was imprisoned in Pyongyang
'(This) demonstrates the value of discreet, behind-the-scenes work by officials in solving sensitive consular cases in close partnership with other governments,' Mr Morrison said.
Mr Morrison's announcement was the first official confirmation the Australian had been detained in North Korea.
Mr Sigley's is the first known arrest of a foreigner in North Korea since that of American student Otto Warmbier, who was sentenced to 15 years hard labour for allegedly stealing a propaganda poster in 2015.
Mr Warmbier was repatriated to the US in a coma a year-and-a-half later, and died six days after his return.
Mr Sigley's father (centre) has been advised of his release. 'He is enormously relieved and grateful,' Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne told Parliament
Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday afternoon confirmed Mr Sigley had been released from detention. Mr Morrison's announcement was the first official confirmation the Australian had been detained in North Korea
Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne told Parliament Mr Sigley's father Gary has been advised of his release.
'He is enormously relieved and grateful,' she said.
'The family has asked that we convey their thanks to everyone who has expressed support to them for the last few days.'
Speaking from his Perth home, Gary told reporters he was 'over the moon' his son had been found safely.
'We are just over the moon that he is safe and sound,' he said.
'He is fine, he is in very good spirits, he's been treated well.'
Mr Sigley has been studying Korean Literature at Kim Il Sung University since April 2018 while also operating a tour company called Tongil Tours. He was believed to be the only Australian living North Korea
Mr Sigley has been studying Korean Literature at Kim Il Sung University since April 2018 while also operating a tour company called Tongil Tours.
He was believed to be the only Australian living North Korea.
He has become one of the most prominent Twitter users inside Pyongyang and has amassed more than 4,000 followers.
Mr Sigley also ran a blog that provided updates on his life in North Korea - even stating he wouldn't get involved in controversial topics that would land him in hot water.
Mr Sigley's last social media post on June 24 was about the Ryugyong Hotel, which remained famously unfinished after construction was halted in 1992 as North Korea entered an economic crisis.
The 29-year-old is expected to travel to Tokyo on Thursday. His wife Yuka Morinaga, whom he married in Pyongyang in 2018, is based in Tokyo
Mr Sigley poses for the camera while dressed in a North Korea football jersey
'New signage above the main entrance to the Ryugyong Hotel bearing its name and logo. A sign that it will soon be open for business?' Mr Sigley's post read.
Mr Sigley married his Japanese wife Yuka in May 2018 in Pyongyang in front of dozens of friends and family.
Their wedding video shows the couple, who studied together at the Australian National University, touring the city before their reception.
The party at a function room in the capital featured dancing, karaoke and speeches from friends.
In a short speech, Mr Sigley thanked guests for coming from all over the world.
Mr Sigley with his father Gary (far left), a relative and his Japanese wife Yuka in Pyongyang
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