THE wife of an Australian man feared missing or detained in North Korea has said her husband was called upon by God to help the people of the totalitarian country.

Karen Short told news.com.au North Korea had been in husband John’s heart “for the last several years” after “God called” him to help those in need.

“God called and he went — being a Christian we read our bible and we believe that is our guidance,” she said.

MORE: DFAT’S TRAVEL ADVICE TO NORTH KOREA

“He wanted to go there as a person that cares for them living in a closed country. There are Christians there but they aren’t welcome, appreciated and not free.”

Mr Short was detained in North Korea on the weekend, believed to be for carrying and distributing Christian materials “to let people know he cares”.

He had carried several self-written pamphlets bearing the message “Does it matter what I believe?” in his luggage.

News_Image_File: Karen Short, wife of Australian missionary John Short, with a photo of her husband inside the couple’s Christian Book Room in Hong Kong. Picture: Kin Cheung

News_Image_File: John Short, pictured with wife Karen, was questioned at his Pyongyang hotel on Sunday, according to a statement released by the family. Picture: Family of John Short

The 75-year-old Australian resident, who lives in Hong Kong, was interviewed by police at his hotel in Pyongyang, the country’s capital. His whereabouts since then are unknown.

Mr Short moved to Hong Kong in 1964 where he has been working as a Christian missionary.

According to Mrs Short her husband was inspired to relocate after he heard preacher’s discuss the situation regarding Christianity in Asia and that “some people had never heard [the gospel] once”.

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Both Mr and Mrs Short are Australian passport holders, albeit living out of the country for five and three decades respectively.

The couple run a Christian publishing firm but Mr Short worked for the Australian Army before making the move overseas. They have three sons, who live in Australia.

News_Rich_Media: An Aust. man being detained by North Korean authorities knew the journey was risky, his wife says.

“He came because he believed it was God’s will for him, through hearing different people speak — we’ve been here all these years and do whatever needs to be done.”

According to Mrs Short, her husband is “used to being in difficult, dangerous situations”.

MORE: IS JOHN SHORT A WELL-MEANING FOOL OR FAITHFUL SERVANT?

When asked if Mr Short was aware of the penalties enforced in North Korea for disobeying the rules, Mrs Short said she and her husband “well realised” what was involved, but that he would have gone anyway.

“That’s what he knew he should do as a Christian missionary. We’re not supposed to live comfortable lives as missionaries. We care for people who are in deep, deep need; it’s not for the benefit of his health I can assure you.”

News_Image_File: Korean-language Christian pamphlets that Mr Short was carrying to North Korea. Picture: Kin Cheung News_Image_File: Karen Short inside the Christian Book Room the couple own in Hong Kong. Picture: Kin Cheung News_Image_File: North Korea has been in John’s heart “for several years”.

Mr Short has travelled throughout Asia for his missionary duties, including throughout China, Burma and Vietnam.

The North Korean trip was not the first for Mr Short, he previously visited the country in January last year with the same Christian materials. There were no issues reported during his last visit.

“We do what needs to be done - we live by faith, we trust God to meet our needs and he does unfailingly, and we’re very thankful,” Mrs Short said.

“We love what we do, it’s our life.”

Mr Short’s colleague, David Wong, who was a travel companion, was also questioned by police but was released and allowed to return to China.

Mrs Short was made aware of her husband’s situation after Mr Wong returned safely to Beijing on Tuesday morning.

News_Image_File: Karen Short says she trusts that God is taking care of her missing husband. Picture: Kin Cheung

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has said it is not known yet where exactly Mr Short is being held, but that Australia would do its best to offer consular assistance.

Australia does not have a diplomatic office in North Korea and is being represented by the Swedish Embassy, making it difficult to obtain even basic details.

“We have made attempts through the Swedish counterparts to establish how he is, where he is and I’m waiting for reports on that so I am rather limited by what I can inform you,’’ Mrs Bishop told a news conference in the Philippine capital, Manila.

Mr Bishop also said she has not yet spoken with Karen Short.

“She has described the assessment of the risk that he took,’’ Mrs Bishop said.

Earlier, a spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) told news.com.au there is little Australia can do to help.

“The Government is aware that a 75-year-old Australian man, Mr John Short, is reported to have been detained in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea [North Korea].

“Australian has no diplomatic representation in North Korea and our capacity to deliver consular services there is extremely limited. Australian interests in North Korea are currently represented by the Swedish Embassy.

“We are in close contact with Swedish officials in Pyongyang to seek their assistance in confirming the wellbeing of Mr Short and to obtain more information.”

Prime Minister Tony Abbott urged citizens to obey the laws of foreign countries when they are abroad.

“f you are in another country, be careful to obey their laws. If you’re in trouble, the Australian government is there to do its best to help,’’ Mr Abbott told reporters in Sydney.

News_Image_File: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un talks to a North Korean military band in Pyongyang as an Australian man is detained in the totalitarian country.

DFAT’s travel advice warns that Australians “should be conscious that cultural and political considerations, not just legal ones, may inform an authority’s decision to detain people”.

“You should not bring books or other material written in Korean, or literature (in any language), audio and videotapes, compact discs and letters that may be perceived by Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) officials as religious, pornographic or political in nature. Such items will be seized by DPRK authorities.”

News_Rich_Media: Jailed U.S. missionary Kenneth Bae urges Washington to step up efforts to secure his release from North Korea nearly 15 months after his arrest. Deborah Gembara reports.

US citizen and Christian missionary Kenneth Bae is currently serving 15 years in North Korea, including a hard-labour sentence, for attempting to overthrow the state.

But Mrs Short remained optimistic.

“It’s a waiting game, we can’t do any more than that — we are doing what we know is the best.,” she said.

“People are praying for John and trust God that he is taking care of him in this and we are praying for his early release.

“I have every confidence in God — I trust that the right time it will all be right.”