Australian student released from North Korea arrives in Beijing

An Australian student who was detained in North Korea has been released and arrived in Beijing on Thursday in transit to Japan. Alek Sigley, 29, who was studying in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, had been missing since June 25. Alarm was raised when the normally active social media user ceased all communication. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison interrupted Parliament to confirm that Sigley had been freed.

He later said in a statement that Swedish authorities had helped secure the student's release. He did not say why Sigley had been detained. Australia has no diplomatic presence in North Korea and relies on other countries such as Sweden to act on its behalf.