An Australian missionary has been detained by authorities in North Korea for allegedly possessing religious material.

The ABC understands John Short, 75, was arrested at his Pyongyang hotel on Sunday after distributing Christian pamphlets.

His family says he could face up to 15 years' jail.

Mr Short's wife Karen says it was her husband's second trip to the secretive country and he was aware of the risks.

"My husband does what he believes is what God wants him to do," Mrs Short said.

"Without sounding strange, that's him, he's a man of faith.

"We're faith missionaries and he believed that we should care and not just talk but do something.

"He had some gospel tracks that he had written and they were in the Korean language."

Mrs Short says she has been told the charges against her husband are serious.

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"Ultimately, we're in God's hands and that's how we look at it," she said.

She says the Australian Government is doing everything possible to help.

"The Foreign Affairs Department [says] 'this is an out-of-the-ordinary case for us'," Mrs Short said.

"She didn't say it's a first, but it's different and difficult for them to deal with."

Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop says it is difficult for Australia to offer consular support to Mr Short because Australia does not have diplomatic representatives in North Korea.

"Our interests in North Korea are represented by the Swedish embassy and we have been in close contact with Swedish officials in Pyongyang to seek their assistance in confirming that Mr Short is well and that we can get as much information as we can from them," Ms Bishop said.

Diplomatic tensions following the release this week of a United Nations report detailing North Korea's crimes against humanity could make the situation more difficult.

The tour company Mr Short travelled into the country with says North Korean officials are not returning their calls.

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