A North Korea detainee has been free after he went missing last week. Australian student, Alek Sigley was in Pyongyang, North Korea, pursuing a master’s degree in Korean literature at Kim Il-Sung University. He also ran a tourism business and a blog called Tongil Tours. It is unknown at this time why he was imprisoned, but he has been “released” and is “safe,” reports the BBC. The 29-year-old was flown out of North Korea to Beijing, China, where he is expected to fly over to Tokyo, Japan where his wife is.

“I’m okay, yeah, I’m good, I’m very good,” Sigley told reporters with a smile at the Beijing Airport. When reporters asked the student about the detention, he didn’t comment.

Gary Sigley, Alek’s father told reporters, “Last week has been very difficult.. we’re just happy that the situation has been resolved. He tried to ring me a few minutes ago, I will talk to him sometime today.”

Alek Sigley went missing on June 25 when his family lost contact with him. He was living in North Korea and is believed to be the only Australian living in the area. He married his Japanese wife Yuka Morinaga in Pyongyang in 2018.

Facebook: Alek Sigley

On Thursday, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced to parliament that Sigley would be released.

“We are pleased to announce that Mr. Alek Sigley has today been released from detention in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” Mr. Morrison said. “He is safe and well.”

This came as a surprise considering that Australia doesn’t have an embassy in North Korea. However Swedish delegates intervened and assisted with getting Sigley free. The Swedish authorities met with DPRK officials and helped to bring “the issue of Alek’s disappearance on Australia’s behalf.”

“I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the Swedish authorities for their invaluable assistance,” Morrison said.

Alek Sigley is the latest foreigner to be arrested and detained in North Korea since American Otto Warmbier, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2016 after he was accused of stealing a poster. During his time in prison, Warmbier fell into a coma. He was sent back to the United States on June 13, 2017. He never regained consciousness and died on June 19, 2017.